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By TMX Archives on 15th Sep 03
BELIEVE ME, after the frustrating year that I've been having regaining my British title was the single best thing that's happened this season.It's been a busy month since we last spoke. BELIEVE ME, after the frustrating year that I've been having regaining my British title was the single best thing that's happened this season.It's been a busy month since we last spoke. Holland was another nightmare - I was riding good, made the pass on Josh, passed a fallen Pichon for third and then bang! It felt like I had an energy drain - I'd been suffering from a cold all week and I faded like a cheap T-shirt. The deep sand wrestled with me until I crashed over a jump and I remounted just in time to be landed on by another rider. I then passed out on my bike and needed immediate medical treatment for dehydration.If I was miffed about the DNF in Holland there was worse news to come, I'd damaged my wrist in the crash and had to wear a plaster for a couple of weeks. I missed the KWS in Ireland and the German GP - not good! I continued to do a lot of running and whatever training was possible during my time in plaster and it was then that I knew I had to win back the British crown if I was to salvage anything from this season.My problem at GP level, apart from carrying injuries, is my inability to nail the holeshot - and coming from behind against the fastest guys in the world isn't easy. Having came from 16th on lap one in Czecho, I was about to make a move on Josh for fourth when Joel Smets picked his bike up after a fall, rejoined the race and crashed straight into the side of me - we were tangled for about four or five seconds. My speed was good and I was happy with my riding but I know that I could've got on the podium if I got a better start. So with that in mind I'll go to France and give it my best shot.Bridgestone launched the all-new 201/202 intermediate tyre at Desertmartin recently. I've been involved with the prototype testing and I must say the new finished product works extremely well.Peter Dixon and the Bridgestone team were all there with a host of motocross guys and road racers - a great day was had by all. Saying that, I took quite a crash jumping up through a tricky section of the sand track.The final British championship round was at Pontrilas and I never realised just how much I had hurt myself after crashing at Desertmartin. My ribs were sore during practice and I was having problems breathing properly - but that changed when the gate dropped for moto one.The pressure was really on for the second race and I made the worst start of the whole year. I so wanted to push for the win but I was riding tight and I didn't want to have to win the championship on the very last race. Sixth was the result at the flag but it wasn't until we got back to the transporter and done our sums that we realised we'd secured the title.Going to the line for the Maxxis Cup race I was so unmotivated because it was just such a relief to have got the title back. But as it turned out the final race was an epic! I really enjoyed the race-long battle with Josh, even after missing out on the win by falling with two laps to go. It was great fun and we were nearly 50 seconds in front of third place at the end of the moto.As you'll know by now, I've resigned with CAS Honda for next season and will be defending my British championship and race MX1 - the new name for MXGP. I know my best chance of a world championship is with CAS and we have a fantastic team for next season with the machinery to match. It'll be good for both myself and UK motocross to have Josh riding in the British championships again - he's a strong and talented rider.The des Nations is in October and I'm really looking forward to it. It's the sort of event that brings out the best in motocross - yes it's competitive but if I have a good day, it's a good day and if I have a bad day it gets lost in the fact that someone else had a good day. Weird but true.Ideally I'd love for team Ireland to qualify, for me to get the holeshot and then have a go at Ricky Carmichael and team USA. But it will be whatever it will be and you can be sure of one thing - Adam, Brian and myself will give it our best shot on the day.By the way, have you guys got your supercross tickets yet? It's all happening in Ireland this year - from no supercross at all to four in one year! From a rider's point of view it's great - we get to ride indoors in the winter. From a spectator's point of view there are two major SX events just one week apart - I hope both are a success.See you all at the supercross.Gordy