I’ve just arrived back in Fuschl, Austria having spent the weekend with my friends Ariane and Barry in Vienna. I flew to Austria after Valencia to spend some time at the Red Bull Diagnostics and Training Center and I plan to leave here in a plane for Assen in three days time. I say ‘plan’ because while that’s what I’d like to do this Icelandic volcano seems to have other ideas! I could be in for a LONG train journey from Salzburg to Amsterdam.

Two races have passed since I last stopped by and things haven’t ran so smoothly. After a great start at Phillip Island it seems that Sunday just hasn’t been my day lately! I enjoyed two pole positions at Rounds Two and Three but disastrous races have followed. I want to make amends at Round Four with another victory at the venue where I scored my best victory last year. As I expected Lascorz and Sofuoglu are proving to be my two main threats for the title, however, Chaz is really starting to look the part on the Triumph. Who know, we could have a four-way fight for the title which would make things interesting!

I’ve had a great week so far at the Red Bull DTC with just one focus and no other distractions. In the evenings I’ve been taking it easy and just catching up on all the action from the 2010 AMA Supercross Championship. I really like the way Ryan Dungey rides, you can tell he’s not the most naturally gifted rider but he’s worked damn hard to go round in circles fast. He’s broken it all down and sussed the job out with the help of Ricky Carmichael, who had to do the same towards the end of his career in order to keep the amazing talent of James Stewart at bay. It really annoys me when people talk about naturally gifted riders because nine times out of ten they get it all wrong. They always think that the guy who is making it look easy is the naturally gifted one, whereas it’s usually the opposite.

The restaurant is now open so I’m off to indulge. I’ll stop by again after Assen be it good news or bad!

Eugene