Three years

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. It is three years yesterday since my unfortunate encounter with the semi trailer on Macquarie Pass. It left my bike battered and written off but did far more damage to me. Nevertheless, the last three years have been filled with challenges and opportunities. The challenges have been allied to having to make pretty significant changes to my life style and the opportunities have been close corollaries of the above.

I have learned to appreciate life much more than I did before (though, I believe I always did) and I have added significantly to my skill set by becoming a full-time house manager instead of bread winner. None of this has been easy but it was my intention right from the outset to get back to living as close to normal a life as I could and to not let the accident destroy my life. I have grown to love and appreciate my wonderful wife and my precious family even more and to (mostly) cheerfully adapt to a new set of circumstances.

It is perhaps wonderfully coincidental that I completed four straight days of teaching this week, my longest stint in the classroom for over three years. Fortunately I had a wonderful class who made the teaching side of it pretty easy for me. Physically it was very demanding and the demands of constantly being on my feet sure took its toll (laid-back Saturday is on the cards) but I got through it, playground duties and all and am feeling pretty smug this morning.

Again I have to say that I am incredibly grateful for my family and friends who have helped and encouraged me throughout the ordeal and have stuck with the programme.  I am also grateful to my virtual world friends who have encouraged this site and given me a forum on which to share my thoughts and feelings.

This weekend is my “home” Grand Prix but, unfortunately, I am home and not at the track. Arguments with DORNA over licensing fees has meant that MotoPod cannot be issued with Press Credentials so, like many who can’t make it to the track I will be watching at home. Actually, sad to say, I won;t even be doing that, having received an SOS call from the resident commentator at the ACT Speedway asking me if I could call the first meeting of the season there tomorrow. Oh well, duty calls, I guess.

Marquez could wrap up the title this weekend if he wins and Lorenzo finishes 3rd or lower but don’t expect either of those scenarios to play out. PI is a smooth, flowing track that ideally suits the Yamaha and Lorenzo’s style. I expect him to win and MM93 to finish 2nd, leaving him with the opportunity of clinching the title next weekend at Motegi in front of the assembled multitude of Honda execs at their home track.

Enjoy the racing, catch you tomorrow with the wrap.