Already my preseason testing schedule is over and it’ll soon be time to go racing. Our two day test in Almeria proved difficult and I struggled to find a setting that allowed me to push. I notched up 170 laps yet we hadn’t found the answer to my handling woes. The conditions were very cold over the two days but typically the sun came out the next day when we were leaving!

We made a major breakthrough at the following test which was held on the Algarve at the circuit owned by my team Parkalgar. The three day test was hampered by even worse conditions with rain and strong winds restricting our dry track time. Nevertheless we managed to make the jump into the top six on day two thanks to a lot of hard work. My mechanics had their work cut out changing rear shock and front forks more often than they did wheels but in the end we stepped into the ball park which made it all worthwhile. My teammate Miguel was on the pipe finishing the test fourth overall so it’s great for the entire team to start the season on a high.

The day after the test I stayed behind to do a photoshoot along with Pippa for a new Northern Irish magazine called IN! The photos turned out pretty cool so I’m looking forward to seeing the feature when it hits the shelves in a month’s time. It’ll be my first non-racing magazine article; next up autobiography! Ok maybe I need to win a world title before I begin writing ‘The Life of Norge’. I’m on my way back home for a few days before I head over to the London Excel Bike Show. I’ll be along with Johnny Rea and Leon Haslam so we’ll have a bita craic no doubt.

Today is my dad’s 60th birthday so if you haven’t sent a card, don’t worry, he’s not big on birthdays! I guess the way he sees it he’s had 59 of them already, what’s the big deal about this one?

Laters,

Eugene