I was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a week ago, and it was one of those weekends for me which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was somewhere to relax and have a look around at all the cars and all the old bikes – something I love doing – and just keep up-to-date with everything. I had a great time going up the hill and meeting a lot of people, and we had a bit of a dinner and a dance at the ball too!
There were some real legends there. It was fantastic for me to meet a lot of people, and to get involved from a point-of-view as a bit of a spectator as well. Normally I’m at the bike races to race bikes, but I was there that weekend to do a bit of a show and meet some new faces and some great old riders.
It was really good taking my HM Plant Honda up the hill. It was a bit weird for me the first time I went up – I didn’t know where the hell I was going! – but it was good, with a few wheelies and burn-outs for the crowd. That’s what they appreciate there, but for me undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend was meeting
Stirling Moss.
Getting back to the business in-hand, I need to win; I need to carry on winning for this British Superbike Championship. I want to get the title, but it’s looking hard at the minute to catch ‘Shakey’ Byrne on the Airwaves Ducati. All credit to him, though – he’s riding fantastically. There have only been four winners in this championship; we had a shock winner last time out with Michael Rutter, and well done to him – he rode brilliantly.
Going to
Oulton Park now, I don’t know. I’d like the double, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen. I’ll certainly be trying my hardest for it. We didn’t go so well there last time – I had a crash and a sixth, which are my worst results of the year.
I need to go there and win both races if I can. I led both races last time; the crash in the first race was my own fault, but in the second race I crashed from second place, which wasn’t my fault. We’ll go back there and try and make amends, and see how we get on.
