Well Assen didn’t go quite according to plan I must say, achieving a front row start to finish in ninth was definitely not what I wanted. My team has been working really hard to get as much power out of our engines as possible and I really wanted to repay them with a podium finish which I felt was on the cards.
Up until race day everything was going well, I was on the front row and actually went pole with just two minutes of the session to go but Broc Parkes and Johnny Rea got ahead of me. I wasn’t too bothered as I was still on the front row in third place.
My race plan didn’t really come into play because no one broke away. That slowed the pace down, I could only get a few fast laps together as everyone was beating each other up and using block passes. With the slower pace it meant more people were running at the front so it was a bit of a dog fight.
I had been sitting in third or fourth place just waiting to make my move but as the race went on I lost position. It was 20 laps of hard work only to lose out on a podium as I kept running on through the corners; thankfully I didn’t crash. I was just losing out to other riders and having to let them go – it was a nightmare.
My sights are now firmly set on Monza which will be all about speed and power – and my Parkalgar Honda should be well suited to the track. I’ll turn up and see who has the pace; it will be a tough race as no one will be able to get away. It tends to produce groups of riders slip streaming each other, so it will be difficult to win.
After Valencia I just got home and back into the gym, I’m going to do the same now ahead of Monza. I need to focus on getting my season and Championship challenge back on track. I am meeting my Parkalgar Honda team tomorrow morning to review what we can do to get back on the podium at Monza. I want to get back on my bike and get out there.
I managed to get to Thruxton and see some of my friends from BSB which was good it’s always nice to have a catch up.
I’ll talk to you all again after Monza.