Hey there! Well, this would be the first time I've actually had to sit my ass down and write one of these columns. So I guess what I'm really trying to say is, go easy on me, I promise I'll try to sort it out by next issue.

Here goes! We rolled into Phillip Island on Wednesday arvo around 2 pm. I made a quick call to the team to see where they were at and what they were up to.

They said, they were down on the Jetty !!!  So we drove directly into town, dumped the car and begin to make our way out along the jetty. Nearing the end we discovered that part of the team were die hard fishermen, hauling out of the water anything and everything they could sink their hooks into! (even a baby shark one night). The funniest thing was that they had befriended or should I say got befriended by a few locals, who quickly taught the boys how to rig their lines and most importantly, hold the tinny! After catching up with all the guys we slipped off to our hotel and checked in.

The next day was out to the track, and get reacquainted with my bike and sort out my riding gear, than start the dreaded pass hunt. In the arvo me and a bunch of the other riders were off to the local sheep farm, for a promotion. We were all a bit suss, because all we were told, was that we were going to have some fun with some sheep and the press and local TV would be there. Nice!

After the interviews we were divided up into groups. The Euro Superbike Team, the Aussie Superbike Team and than the Aussie Supersport Team. It was to be a sheep sheering time trial! First to go was the European team, clocking a time of approx. 4.5 minutes, then it was the Aussie Superbike team with a time of just over five minutes. It was then up to us to show them how it was really done! So basically the object of the game is this. First somebody's got to catch the sheep, than someone has to sheer it (assisted by a pro) and than someone throws the fleece, than sort the fleece and roll it. Five guys per team. The ass completely dropped out of our event on stage one when Parkesy dragges out the, biggest bad ass sheep you've ever seen! Typical! Basically two fleeces on one. So Anyway we got our asses kicked, big time! It took us just a bit over 6 minutes. What a disaster, smoked by the Europeans! Dam it!

The next day it was back to the fun stuff. I was lucky enough to take pole and add another watch to the collection. Sweet! As for the race it didn't run completely to plan, after half way I knew I wasn't going to win but third was pretty much in the bag. Well, at least until my bike decided to pull the pin with only three laps to go. I managed to drag my ass home in twelve scoring a few, for sure valuable points.

The next day we were off to my oldies' house up on the Gold Coast to catch up on some sun and hit the beach. Nice. We spent most of the week catching up with friends and family and the odd barbie (yeah shrimps of course). On the Sunday before we left to come back to Europe, Isabelle had organised a surprise Birthday party for me. It been a couple of weeks early I had no idea. We rolled up to this coffee shop with my sister, her kids, my brother and his girlfriend to grab a latte but just as we arrived my sisters 10 month old kid decided to unleash a world of pain in her duds. Stinking us out, we all retreated to this lawn balls club across the street. At the time I thought we were going there because they had good facilities so Linda could hose off Lilly. But on arrival I discovered all my bodies were there with presents and Isabelle had organised for us all to play lawn balls and of course another barbie. Mmmmm!

Now, lawn balls is generally played by the elderly in their white outfits matching white hat and generally taken very seriously. But when you get a bunch of my pales together, a barrel of beer and a barbie the rules get a little bent. I leave it like that! Awesome party! Thanks Isabelle! :-)

This year my brother got me a Shark dive at Underwater World on the Sunny Coast. I thought I use it after the race season, so at least I'll have time to heal should anything go missing. Last Birthday he got me sky dive, I wonder what sort of dive he'll get me next year! Do you think there's some kind of hidden agenda !?!? Ha!

Anyways, we're off back to Europe this week and heading across to Misano where hopefully we can turn the table on the season so far. Would be nice to get back up on the podium and taste a bit of Champa's, it's been a while.

Oh yer, I 'd better mention all the training I've been doing, just in case my team manager reads this.

Bye!

C ya

Karl