Race Report...

Supermoto Race

The circuit for the race wasn't exactly Supermoto. It had a long whoop section, 2 double jumps, a table top, a small rhythm section. Oh and 2 corners of tarmac too! Never the less it was great fun to ride, even if it was just a supercross track with a bit of tarmac.

Qualifying Race
I got off to a reasonable start for the qualifying race and was holding with the top 3 for a long while but then I started making mistakes down the long whoop section which was taken as doubles. It was really hard to get the rhythm perfect all the way down and I subsequently lost the tow. I had to finish in the top 3 to progress directly to the main so unfortunately I just missed out finishing behind Delepine, Ravaglia and Seel.
Finished: 4th

Qualifying Race 2

Once again I had to get into the top 3 to progress through to the final. I got a mediocre start and was running 2nd behind Luca Minutilli. He is a man that rides with his heart and he was wild in some parts of the track so I just stayed where I was and finished behind him so I would easily go through to the final.
Finished: 2nd

Final

I had 9th on the grid for the final and I benefitted from a first turn pile up that put me in 6th. I was feeling so much better in the final and got the whoops perfect every lap. All of the doubles were pretty easy and were good fun. I passed Eddy Seel in the whoop section and then a stricken Ravaglia who stalled his factory Yamaha in one of the corners. I had my sights on 3rd place Girolami and was hunting him down but ran out of time. Still, I was really happy with the way I rode in the final.

Finished: 4th

MOTO LIVE TRIATHLON

Now this event takes some explaining. There is one circuit that has a Supercross section, an Enduro section (complete with logs, rocks and watersplashes) and a tarmac loop known as the Supermoto section. Each manufacturer has 3 riders that each races their own respective type of bike. They qualify in their own category and then for the final it is a relay. The Enduro riders set off and do 10 laps, then make a pit stop and put the transponder on the Supermoto bike and that rider sets off for 10 more and finally the same thing happens for the Motocross rider.

Qualifying Race

I got a great start for the qualifying race and the first part of the track was the Supercross part. Down the long whoop section i did a mega block pass on Ivan Lazzarini that any AMA Supercross rider would have been proud of but Delepine got through as a result. Next came the Enduro part and the logs, sand and roks were all negotiated fine and then Delepine stopped dead when he hit a rock in the water splash and I ran right into the back of him. I fell over and me and the bike both went completely underwater. My helmet was full and unfortunately so was my bike which had ingested a couple of litres of mucky water and didn't like it so much. In the end I had to retire as it wasn't doing the bike any good at all.

Finished: DNF

Final

Nicolas Paganon did a sterling job to put us in 5th at the change over to the Supermoto bikes and I set off just after Ivan Lazzarini. Now there was one massive jump on the course. It was the finish line jump for the European championship Supercross race the day before and not all of them were clearing it completely. It was a single that doubled onto a big tabletop and half the Enduro riders were not jumping at all and the rest were landing on top of the tabletop. Ivan Lazzarini, who is amazing on the dirt section was clearing the whole thing on his Supermoto and if he could do it then so could I! I decided I would go for it in the qualifying race but with my bike ingesting all that water I didn't even get to go over it once. So now was my chance. I followed Lazzarini over the double jump before it and decided to go for it. The jump was huge but I couldn't believe how easy it actually was. If only I had gone another foot. I landed just short and was worried about going over the bars so I leant back into the bike and gave a good amount of gas. As I landed I felt a sharp pain in my ankle and then bounced off then landing and felt it again as I hit the floor. I never crashed and as I came round to the pits I thought I have to pull in but decided not to as I was sure the pain would subside. The next lap I decided I MUST pull in now as I was in so much pain but as I came to the pit area all the Aprilia teamsters and riders were cheering me on over the hey bales. They were of course oblivious to what had happened but I felt like I had to carry on. I didn't want to let them down and I didn't wan't to go out like a girl (which is exactly why I went for the jump in the first place). I was so relieved to pit after 10 laps and I fell to the floor. I think every1 was wondering what I was doing but it soon became apparent to them. The trackside staff were really good and gave me some quality drugs. I was completely away with the fairies. I have no idea what happened for the MX riders as I was laying trackside but apparently we finished 5th with is pretty good considering everything

Finished: 4th

Having been taken to hospital and then going again when I got home I found out that I have done a fair amount of ligament damage and the impact was such that the ligament actually pulled a piece of bone off my ankle and breaking it. People keep saying 'I bet you wish you hadn't tried it' but I'm actually glad I went for it. At least I tried to do it and didn't wimp out. No other SM rider could do it apart from Lazzarini and that includes Delepine and Seel who have both been world class MX riders and even won MX Grand Prix's so yeahit hurts but it was damn cool!

I'll keep you all updated on my progress on the site.