I am still desperately looking for a Road Racing aluminium fuel tank for my race bike. Cash waiting. Do get in touch if you can help...

That is it, there is no going back. The '09 season is well and truely underway and Donington Park, the first round, is now behind us. I got there early on Friday morning for a quiet trackday (98dB max). Unfortunately it was very cold and the rain stayed with us for most of the day. Not your ideal day for testing really... Nevermind, that was good enough to remember which way goes the track.

In order to comply with the technical rules of the series, I had some new Pirelli Diablos fitted to the bike at the end of the day. I really should have had them fitted earlier, that would have allowed me to scrub them in before the qualifying session instead of during it. Anyway that's my excuse for the 11th time (in class) for the grid position. Must try harder.

Saturday afternoon, first race: for me it ended after less than 2 laps, when I lost a bolt for the gear change linkage as I was entering the Melbourne hairpin. Gutted I was, especially as I did look at the bolt just a few hours earlier wondering if I should not lock wire it... That was the first time I failed to finish a race not because of a crash. Well, the bike had never been so rapidly fixed, ready for the next race!

Sunday afternoon, second race: after 2 cloudy, rainy and generally dull days, the sun is out and shining in a way that is not very usual in England. Damn it, I did not take any sun cream with me. We were the really last ones to race during that meeting: 3/4 of the paddock was already home. Came the time for our race and we were told it was a 10 laps race, instead of the 8 planned originally. Sounds like that fitness training will come in handy did I think. Still 11th (in class) on the grid, I managed a good start and caught up with the overall top 10 at the entrance of Redgate. After 20 minutes of racing, I finally get the 5th position in class. That got me quite happy, even though I was still disappointed not to have finished the race on the day before.

Big thanks to:

• Mike from MD racing, the engine is brilliant mate!
• The KRR team for all their parts, help and advice. Even when they are not in the paddock, their help is priceless!
• NickB for his help in the paddock. Even though we hate each other.
• Craig for the hospitality and coffees. And the fuel.

I owe you all.

TODO list for next meeting:

• Ride harder.
• Get fitter.
• Find better brakes.
• Lose at least 5kgs on the bike (16 to go...)

Next races: Anglesey, Wales. Bring it on.

My DD09 in its garage, on Friday:

... and the engine is finally back in the frame.

Mike from MD Racing is my main sponsor for the 2009 season.
His help should allow me to make '09 my best race season of all. Amongst other things, Mike fully rebuilt my 583cc DesmoDue engine and setup geometry and suspensions of the bike.

Here is a first clue...