Everybody seems to be looking forward to the four week summer break apart from me. I don't want a holiday, I just want to get back out there on the bike and win that first grand prix but I've just got to be patient until we are back in action at Brno in the Czech Republic in the middle of August.

I must admit I'm looking forward to getting back to full fitness and training but I will really miss being on the bike although I'm planning a few Motocross and Supermoto practice rides to keep in the groove.

I so wanted to end the first part of the season with a win but the rain played with my head when I was leading in Germany after my crash in Assen a couple of weeks earlier. When those ominous spots of rain appeared my visor I just did not want to go down again and eased the pace.

Once again I was leading again and once again I felt I had the situation well under control. Then it started to rain quite heavily and the lap times dropped by almost three seconds.

Of course the grip on the track was affected because we were on slick tyres but it seems it takes a crash for Race Direction to put out the red flag and I didn't want to be the cause once again, although it was dangerous out there.

With three laps remaining I was holding the gap between myself and world champion Gabor Talmacsi and Stefan Bradl in second and third places, I hoped if they made a mistake I would be close enough to take advantage but on the last lap I was really close and decided to have a go for a place on the podium.

I braked very late for the final uphill left hand bend into the start and finish knowing it was a very short drag to the line. I got up the inside of Talmacsi but he was able to square up behind and out drag me to the line. There was nothing I could do because I knew I had to pass him going into the corner but I certainly lost nothing by trying and picked up 13 valuable championship points.

It appears every grand prix is affected by the weather this season and the only time it has not rained at some period in practice, qualifying or the race was that opening round under the Qatar floodlights way back in March.

The track caught me out on Saturday when I crashed. It was strange one because I felt very comfortable and was quick. The tyre suddenly lost grip on the drying track but luckily I was not hurt I'm getting back to full fitness and have been comfortable on the bike for the last two races after problems at the previous three.

It's been a tough first part of the season but I've achieved second, third, fourth fifth and sixth places and so there is only one way to go and that's number one. Once that first win comes we can move on. I've set realistic goals for the second part of the season. I know if I can start winning I can push towards a third place in the championship.

While we are planning what to do for the next four weeks the MotoGP riders and teams are on their way to California for the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca on Sunday. With no 125 or 250 cc races there I bet the sun shines all the time and there will be no problems with the rain – typical!

Bradley

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