Most people want to know my plans for next year but I’m afraid to say I still don’t have any news on that front. I’m playing the waiting game but I’ve a feeling that things will begin to move very quickly over the next few days. The problem us riders find ourselves in approaching the off-season is the lack of job vacancies. Year on year teams are dropping out yet the same number of riders remain so there are not enough seats to cater for us all, much like the game musical chairs!

Race day at Nurburgring was a massive disappointment. We’d worked hard all weekend and during practice I was the only rider with a similar pace to Carlos Checa. In Silverstone Carlos had that little edge on us but at Nurburgring we’d stepped up and going into race day we were confident we had the pace to match him. Unfortunately we suffered a chassis problem during race one which prevented me from pushing forward and so I dropped back to finish a poor 4th position having started 2nd on the grid. As frustrated as I was I focussed all my energy on race two as we switched to our number two bike. We were sat on the grid ready to go and the heavens opened and at that moment I realised I wasn’t going to get the chance to showcase my pace around a dry Nurburgring circuit.

Considering the conditions I felt 5th position wasn’t a bad effort in race two but I was fuming with the organisers for allowing the race to continue. The race started under heavy rain which was fine until the monsoon weather struck on lap 3. At this point I urged race control to stop the race by waving as I passed the start and finish line on numerous laps. Many people have made the ignoramus suggestion that I could have pulled in if I felt the conditions were too dangerous but that’s not part of a winner’s mentality. A true racer will never pull in and give away valuable championship points, that’s just not in our nature. At Misano this year I remounted in race two and by the end of the race two litres of oil had escaped from my engine. I was well aware of the dangers as the oil poured over my left foot but I was sat in 13th position and all I could think of was gaining three valuable points. I couldn’t bring myself to retire from the race knowing that I’d give those up and so I continued to fight to the end. My point is this- the choice should not be that of the rider or team, it is up to race control to decide when conditions have become unrideable. Race control failed us riders on that Sunday afternoon and put our lives at risk which is unforgivable. Fortunately no one paid the ultimate price during race two but that may not be the case next time around.

Since Misano I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Italy. I stayed with Leon Haslam prior to our test at Misano and sampled a spot of wakeboarding. It’s definitely a sport I could get in to but, much like with my golf, I’ve got a long way to go! The Misano test was a massive success for us as we were able to dial out the problems we suffered at that style of circuit earlier in the season. On the way to Imola Pippa and I stopped off in London to watch the movie premiere of ‘Fastest’. It was a good movie but for me it focussed too much on the heroism of Rossi. For one, the way in which Casey Stoner manhandles and dances on a bike would have been a superb insight for racing fans and non-racing public alike. That’s a big advantage MotoGP has over F1 and if portrayed correctly can be awe-inspiring. That’s only my opinion though!

Speaking of opinions Julian Ryder made quite an uneducated comment on stage after the movie had finished. Regarding my MotoGP hopes he asked, “What MotoGP team manager would want to sign a guy who’s being beaten week in, week out by three MotoGP rejects?” It was a very poor assessment of the World Superbike Championship by someone trapped inside the GP bubble. When I spoke to him afterwards I used the example of the great Valentino Rossi’s season. Rossi’s getting his ass kicked on a bike that was capable of winning races last year and at last weekend’s Aragon GP he was beaten fair and square by MotoGP rookie Cal Crutchlow. A rider’s eligibility cannot solely be judged on race results alone and as a journalist who has been around for some time now Julian ought to know better.

By the time I stop by again I should know my plans for 2012 and I sure hope it doesn’t involve the dole office!

Eugene

I enjoyed the summer break immensely.  We spend so much time travelling that it was nice to spend a few weeks at home.  I left Silverstone a very happy man after two rostrum finishes but on Monday I received the bombshell news that I was without a job for 2012.  Yamaha Europe made the decision to withdraw from the World Superbike Championship at the end of the season which was devastating for the entire team.  With Marco and I looking to remain with the team for next season both sides of the garage were fired up for a title challenge but unfortunately the state of the world economy has hit our sport once again.

Upon receiving the news I thought it a good idea to travel to Brno to visit the MotoGP paddock.  I’ve been in talks with Herve Poncharal and I’ve made no secret of the fact that this would be my number one choice for next year if the opportunity arises.  Tech 3 Yamaha are in my opinion head and shoulders above the rest of the privateer teams and on top of that I feel really at home within the Yamaha family.  With MotoGP switching to 1000cc next year it would be the perfect time to make the jump to the top class.  For now though my focus is on the final four races of the World Superbike Championship and I haven’t given up on 3rd in the championship just yet.  We’ll need eight strong finishes to have any chance of chasing down Max or Marco so I’ll see what I can do.

During August I’ve tried to spend as much time at home as possible.  I’m a real home-bird and didn’t fancy hopping on another plane so Pippa and I headed to County Wexford in Ireland for a few days break just to unwind.  We’ve travelled all around the world yet we’ve barely visited anywhere in the south of Ireland so we decided to explore the Emerald Isle a little more.  Aside from that we’ve been doing our fair share of gardening at home.  I always seem to have a spade in my hand attacking the ground which is surely man’s favourite role in the garden!

My brother John has made it back to Northern Ireland and he’s currently in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.  He’s making great progress and he’s already months ahead of where he should be.  He’s hasn’t stopped working on his rehabilitation since the moment he was able and it’s a real testament to his character how well he’s recovering.

I’m off to Germany tomorrow and I’m aiming for another double podium.  Johnny Rea will be returning after injury so I expect him to be back in the mix at the front.  The line-up of riders in WSB is so strong this season but Carlos has had the edge on us all so far.  He’s going to take some stopping at the last few rounds as he’s very strong on all four circuits.  I’d like another few wins before the season’s out so I’m sure hoping I can stop him!

Eugene

Things were put into perspective ten days ago when my brother John had a huge crash during Friday practice for the Oulton Park round of the British Superbike Championship. I’d felt quite disappointed following two 5th place finishes at Brno a few days earlier but when I heard the list of John’s injuries I began to realise that finishing top five in a world championship race isn’t something to gripe about. What makes it worse was the fact that something happened out of John’s control so he’s laid up in a hospital bed with career-threatening injuries due to no fault of his own. John’s been very professional following the crash but I don’t think I’d be fit to bite my tongue quite so well if I was in his position!

My family are very fortunate that a friend from back home gave us the use of their son’s student home nearby the hospital so we owe a big thank you to Patrick Graham and his family. I was in hospital with John yesterday and again he was diagnosed with yet another fracture. Never in all the years of being John’s brother did I know the strength of character that he possesses, his courage and positive attitude throughout the whole ordeal has been nothing short of admirable. John’s mechanic Kim made an incredibly kind gesture by buying him an iPad2 but John hasn’t had the chance to watch any movies yet as his entire day is taken up as the docs put him through his paces. He’s all but immobilised as his pelvis, both legs and shoulders are smashed up but he’s still working on keeping some core strength intact! John has a tough few months ahead of him but he really appreciates all he support he’s received from fans since the accident. He’ll be forever grateful to the BSB medical crew as if it wasn’t for them he may well have lost both arms so a big thank you to those guys.

I managed to sneak in a trip to the French Alpes with my brother Michael and Chaz Davies to watch a few stages of the Tour de France. We couldn’t have picked a better year as it proved to be one of the greatest Tours of all time. I was supporting Ireland’s Nicholas Roche who put in some great efforts particular on the Col de Galibier. Those guys are incredible athletes and it was a great experience to be able to cycle a few of the climbs just a couple of hours before them. I’d like to return again next year but it all depends on whether my racing calendar allows it.

I didn’t achieve the greatest of results at Brno so my goal is to get back on the podium this weekend at Silverstone. It’s my second bite at the cherry following a disastrous home round at Donington earlier in the year. I’m currently lying 4th in the championship but I’ve been off the pace of Checa, Biaggi and Melandri lately so I want to be mixing it with those guys from here on in. It’s time to take it up a notch!

Eugene