Down to Business
Published: 12th March 2008
Author: Words by Stephen Sword Photo by Ray Archer
Swordy gets his season swinging with a Spanish photoshoot followed by a pair of international shakedown rides
It was that time again, to pack the kitbag and the passport and head to the airport. I was flying down to Spain for Kawasaki’s ’08 launch and I landed at Girona Airport late in the evening, jumped in a cab and went straight to the hotel. Ryan was already there along with Ray Archer and some guys from Kawasaki.
We had four days scheduled for photos and press at the track but we ended up getting it done in three. It was a cool few days - we got some great pics and a lot of video footage. I also got some good riding in too and it was the first time that the whole team was together. Both the other Kawasaki GP teams - KRT and GPKR - were also there so it was just like one big green happy family.
I stayed over that week and travelled straight to the race in Valence. The weather there was awesome, all the other years I have been it has always been cold and snowing. I was excited about racing again and even though it was a mixed race it was a good warm up before the season gets properly under way. The whole weekend went good and I took time to ease my way back into race mode. When you haven’t raced for a while everything seems to happen very quickly around you. I finished the day on the podium so I was obviously happy with that. It just felt great to be racing again and to be part of the team.
You realise the things you miss when you’ve been out for so long. Like being roosted by 450s all weekend - my chest and arms looked like I was hit with a paintball gun about a thousand times. Battle scars, you have to love them. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I nearly ran over a crazy photographer in practice – Sutty, you got a bit too close for comfort that lap.
After the race Jodie and I steadily made our way to the airport as our flight was early Monday morning. We landed at Heathrow at 8am and were home just over an hour later so that was pretty sweet. Later that morning I met TC and Aaron just off the M3 to pick up my kit. They had both been away for a couple of weeks in the camper so I loaded most of my stuff in there so I didn’t have to drag it all back on the plane.
It was a quick pit stop as the lads were keen to get on back home. TC tried his luck to get some diesel money out of me but there was no chance of that happening. You’re still in debt to me TC - how many people do you know who would clean up their mate’s sick for them? Had to mention that one again, sorry. I still tell that story to everyone when they order chicken chow mien. Speaking of food, a few people ripped into me when I mentioned that I like my roast dinners in my last column. Well we have them on a Monday now that the racing has started!
After the Valence race I spent the week preparing for the Hawkstone International and I got in some sand riding as the past week was all hardpack tracks. We arrived at Hawkstone on Saturday afternoon with the sun shining and the track looking superb. Probably the best condition I have seen it in for a while. The day again went pretty well and I had three strong rides to end up second overall. My starts are what let me down - it was a concrete pad so the chances of spinning up were high. I’m normally good on them but it just wasn’t working out for me. Canada Heights is the only other track that has the concrete start so I’ll be making sure I’m ready for that.
I feel as though my progress is good - I feel strong mentally and physically and I’m looking forward to the whole season ahead. There’s still a few more weeks to go before the first GP and we have the first British at Donington before then. I haven’t raced at Donington yet but was there watching when they held the GP.
That pretty much raps up another month, I’m just about to fire the lawn mower up and cut the grass. Yeah, I know I’m going to be ripped into about that this month. Am I bothered?