Testing Times!
Published: 13th February 2008
Author: Stephen Sword Photo by JP O’Connell
Apart from the odd Sunday roast there’s no time to relax as Swordy gets set for the season ahead…
The race season is almost upon us and all that hard training
and riding over the winter will soon be put to the test. As the saying goes, ‘when
the gate drops the bulls**t stops’. My
pre-season testing is going well. We were in the South of France two weeks ago
- TC and I flew down where we were met by our mechanics Adam (how’s your leg?)
and Ryan. Fred, Mike, plus Willy our suspension guy were also there.
We stayed at Fred’s house for the week - he rents an apartment on the side of Antoine Meo’s parent’s house. It is like a big farm but French style, a cool place with a nice practice track in the back garden. We had a good week and tested many things with the engine and suspension along with some other small parts. The tracks we rode on were awesome - all hardpack and good for testing – and the weather was perfect, about 18 degrees and sunny. I was happy with my set-up and with a couple more tests scheduled before the season starts things are looking good.
Apart from being away in France, I have been riding and training mainly in England. The tracks over here have been in good condition which always helps. A little bit cold some days but that toughens you up ready for the season. There was one week that we had lots of rain so I popped over to Dunkirk for three days riding. It’s deep sand and you can always ride there no matter what the weather’s doing. DT came as well and Ryan - who is now over in Belgium at the team workshop - met us there too.
My first race of this year will be the international at Valance on the February 24. The week leading up to Valance I have to go to Spain where the Kawasaki team launch is being held. All the Kawasaki teams will be down there, not just us. Some press will be there taking photos and doing interviews - the photos they take are normally the ones we use for our posters and the team use them for their press packs which they give to sponsors. It is a week where everyone prays for good weather so we get the best shots possible.
After Valance I head home to get ready for the Hawkstone Park International. I haven’t really been getting up to much else lately. My week is taken up with riding and training but I have Sundays off. Saturday nights Jodie and I usually go out either for some food or to the cinema. I have to catch an early film - anything that starts after 8pm and you’ll see me snoring in the back row. I get an elbow in the ribs from Jodie if that happens. We make the most of our Sundays at the moment by having a good old roast. Once the racing starts there’s not many Sundays free so I have to get them while I can.
I’m not too good when it comes to relaxing but a nice roast and a bit of football on Sky TV always kills a few hours. I like to follow football. Saying that, I have an interest in most sports. I’m always flicking through the sports channels on telly mainly to look for motocross but if there is none on I’ll normally see what football’s on. I’m a Manchester United fan – I’ve probably just lost a few readers now. No, I am not a glory hunter either – I’ve been supporting them since I was about 10. I just follow them on the TV or in the papers, I have been to a few games but motocross takes up most of my time full stop. Plus it’s not that close for me to pop up to Manchester.
I used to play five-a-side football every Tuesday night but I had to stop playing as a couple of times I came away with some bruises (ah bless, did TC’s tackle slide in too hard? – SL). Not what I needed leading up to a race - imagine trying to explain that one to the team manager. Luckily, I never got a serious injury from football but some of the bruises were enough to bring the ice pack out of the freezer.
That’s about all for now - I’m looking forward to next month where I can fill you in on the first couple of races. Take it easy but ride hard…