We’re midway through our summer break and while most Italians riders will be dawning their Speedos on the beach by day I’m much happier being at home! Things have been so hectic for me this year, on top of competing in the World Supersport Championship I’ve made three visits to Austria to attend the Red Bull Diagnostics and Training Center and I’ve been along to a handful of GPs. For me being at home feels like a holiday and this week I’ve been in my my home country for all seven days. I can’t remember the last time I was home for an entire week!

On the racing front although I’m not leading the championship I’m delighted with how the season has went. I’ve exceeded my own expectations with six wins already but that would mean little without the World title under my belt. I’m up against it with a 17 point deficit but I think that Sofuoglu is a lot more worried than I am right now. Kenan is well aware of how we bounced back as a team at Assen after two rough rounds at Portimao and Valencia. Silverstone was an important victory in the title race as well as our psychological battle.

Last weekend I got to do a lap of the Ulster Grand Prix circuit along with my brothers and Johnny Rea. I hadn’t thought much about it beforehand but the moment I headed down ‘The Flying Kilometre’ I was buzzing! I can’t even begin to imagine the adrenaline rush the riders get when they race around there.

Everybody is asking what my plans are for next season and my answer is, “I wish I knew!” I have two great options in World Superbikes as well as two really good options in Moto2. The most important thing is that I arrive in either championship with a package capable of winning so that’s what I’m working on right now. I need to ensure that I surround myself with the right people. These past two seasons have been the best of my career and a large part of that is down to the Parkalgar Honda team. We gelled together fantastically well and the outcome has been two title fights and hopefully even a title victory in the coming months! The team really deserve to win the championship so I’ll be doing all I can to bring home the bacon…

Ciao,

Eugene

I’m back in the lead of the championship at last! It’s required four victories from five races and I’ll be giving it my all from here on in to make sure I stay at the top. Misano was scorching hot which was ideal for the holiday makers along the Adriatic Coast but not so much for us riders. A new challenger emerged in the form of Gino Rea who’s been improving all season and in Misano he looked set for a podium finish until Michele Pirro wiped him out. Ole Pirro is making a name for himself for all the wrong reasons, he managed to knock his teammate Sofuoglu off at their test in Imola last week as well.

I attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time last weekend and I was well impressed by the event. The weather was great too so it was cool just to hang out with the other riders without the pressures of racing. The craic was brilliant with everyone on a busman’s holiday bar Dougie Lampkin. I really felt for him as he was worked off his feet, everytime I seen him he was riding his Beta across some sort of obstacle! The highlight of my weekend was riding an RC45 Honda up the hill on Sunday morning. It felt so different to my CBR 600RR though, the seat felt really low to the floor and there was loads of room to move around.

I’m off to Brno now to defend my lead in the title race. This one’s going to go down to the wire between the three of us, many people thought I’d have it easy this year with Crutchlow gone but I knew that Sofuoglu and Lascorz would push me all the way. I’d love to go to either Moto2 or World Superbikes as the World Supersport Champion next year. I know that, with the right team, I am capable of winning in both categories so I will consider my options carefully over the coming month.

Last year I wasn’t ready to make the move as I felt I needed one more stable year to heal the wounds of two tough years in 250 Grands Prix. Now I feel I’m the complete package and ready to take on a new challenge, however this time I’m much less naive. I’ve learnt not to respect those who don’t respect me and not to take shit from anyone. In many ways I was brought up too well and I suffered for that when I first made the switch to Grands Prix racing.

Negotiations for next season are only just beginning for me but I’ll leave that up to my manager Ian Wheeler. My sole focus is on winning the World Supersport Championship, I’ve not taken much notice of anything else recently! Hopefully I can extend my lead in the championship this weekend as three points really isn’t much of a buffer.

Catch ya soon,

Eugene

Thank God the month of May is over and done with, it’s such a busy period. I shouldn’t complain too much though as it was a successful time for me, in fact I’ve only lost out on five points in the past two months! I have a lot to thank the team for as they stepped things up after Valencia, if my bike was good before then it’s frickin’ awesome now.

Although May was hectic we did get some holiday time between races. The day after the race in Kyalami we all got a tour of Soccer City, the stadium where the World Cup final will be played. I tried to hide in the locker room but I got found out! Then we flew to Las Vegas for a few days before the race in Salt Lake City. It was great to spend some time with the team without the noise of bikes going by!

I’m enjoying some time at home right now and the weather’s been kind which always helps brighten the mood. My wee bicycle has been like cow dung, it’s never off the road! My trials bike is parked at the moment, in the winter I’d be itching to get out with the boys on a Sunday but during the season a Sunday at home is a Godsend. Saturday and Sunday are usually my rest days from training so I’ve got an extra 7-8 hours on my hands to get other things done.

I’m off to Silverstone for the MotoGP this weekend. I tested there last week and the new infield section is absolutely brilliant. They’ve done such a good job with the circuit, I enjoyed riding there so much and it’s definitely one of the best circuits on the calendar this year. I’ll be watching the Moto2 guys with a keen eye and I’m looking forward to getting out around the circuit to see up close what these bikes are made of. Unfortunately for the organisers Rossi is out injured at the moment and I hope that doesn’t hurt the attendance too much.

Next up for us World Supersport boys is Misano. I love that place; the circuit is great and there’s a beach down the road! It doesn’t get much better than that. Pippa and I will fly out one day early so we can enjoy a beach for a bit before getting to work for the weekend. I’m also booked in for the Goodwood Festival of Speed the following weekend so I’m looking forward to attending the event for the first time, it ought to be pretty cool.

As they say in Llandow, ciao for now,

Eugene