Almost a month has passed since Round One where we were victorious at Phillip Island. I head to Round Two looking for more of the same, but knowing at the same time that a repeat performance is unlikely. I just can’t see my two chief rivals letting me head off into the distance again so I predict a three way tussle all the way to the flag.

After Phillip Island Pippa and I spent a week up on the Gold Coast of Australia. Unfortunately we were hit by a week of freak weather which typically cleared up the moment we left for home! Nevertheless it was a fantastic week, it’s hard not to enjoy the Aussie way of life. Gino Rea was also up on the Gold Coast for the week so we hooked up with him briefly. The work started when we arrived back in Northern Ireland as it was moving in time. I thought it was going to be stressful times but the excitement of making our new house a home took over. That and the fact that Pippa was on the case sorting most things! For two weeks many of those days were long as I’d get up around 7.00 to train then carry on with moving in duties before taking on my second training session of the day later in the evening. We did have some time off last weekend with Pippa’s parents coming over to stay. On Friday we visited the Giant’s Causeway which is always a nice way to get away from the world.

I went trials riding on Sunday for the first time in a few months and it was great to be back in the forest having the craic with the boys. Nowadays we do more talking than riding, when the sun’s on your back sometimes it’s just nice to lie back and talk rubbish! Usually it’s one person trying to climb a hill while the rest stand scattered across the hill ready to catch both bike and rider when they inevitably fail to make it to the top. After a few attempts that person will park it up then it’s times for the next person to be picked on. I’d like to say the selection is random but it’s more a case of going after the person who’s most likely to bite! Our new recruit Barney is good entertainment, he stands at the top of the hill and provides us with some comedy. He brings a jerrycan filled with fuel but I’m sure a little vinegar jar would be ample for all the riding he does!

I’m travelling to Portugal a day earlier than usual so I hope to catch up with my teammate Miguel and our team owner Paulo at some stage. It’s a nice feeling to go to the team’s home round as the leader of the World Championship, I hope I leave there in the same position.

See ya,

Eugene