Top Ten List
OK, just to give everyone a little update.
I've found a way to transport my package to the Catalunya GP in a couple weeks, which is going to work out perfectly because it'll be easier for me to transport it back to my apartment in BCN from there.
Package? Check!
Secondly, I think my roomate, Carla, is going to be one of our umbrella girls at the Spanish GP. This is especially cool for me because she has absolutely no idea what the hell I do for a living, except that I have to wear a goofy uniform. Girl? Check!
Thirdly, it looks like we're going to able to put something together between a couple of really cool Ducati enthusiasts and Loris, and I think they're going to have a great Laguna Seca. Thanks to Barf for hooking it up! Super Snake? Check!
Fourthly (yeah, it's a word), I feel great! I've caught up on some sleep and managed to avoid getting sick after all the sneezing and hayfever I had in France. The common joke was that I was allergic to that country. The weather here in BCN has been awesome lately, if a little hot, and the bright, sunny days are helping to boost my spirits and keep me motivated. I've over-exercised already (BMX'ing and <gasp> running), like I always do when I come back from a race, and although my body is stiff and sore, I know I'm alive. I spent last couple days doing laundry, cooking breakfast everyday (eggs and madaleines - Boo-Yah!) with coffee and OJ, and getting a lot of work done in the afternoons. Today I was blasting Royksopp and later, Tosca/K&D, while I sorted through various files. Anyway, mind and body are good to go and I'm ready for the Mugello challenge. Excited? Check!
Fifthly (or should it be filthy?), 5TH PLACE AT LE MANS! 5TH! With Hofmann! Holy Smackeroonies, I was NOT expecting that. I've always maintained that when everything is working right, and everything is clicking, then we can go fast (Barros or the Hoff), but after a dismal Friday and Saturday which saw us qualify in 14th and 17th, sheesh, who would have thought! 5th! I can almost taste the podium! 5th! I'm actually over-exagerrating this a little bit, because I'm bummed about Barros' race where he lost it 3 corners from the finish. On the one hand, I'm stoked that he was "going for it" right up until the very end, but on the other hand, it would have meant a single point in a long year . . . and in a tricky rain race sometimes it might be better just to bring it home. Anyway, a racer is a racer, and I'd rather have one who's hungry instead of one who's content to just ride around and be part of the big show. The Hoff? Check!
Sixthly, I have a ton of work in Mugello to put the Barros machine back together, and I'm also going to be working with my Ducati connection from the factory, Luigi. He's coming up from Bologna to work with me in person. He's tall, goofy, and looks like a evil-er version of Quentin Tarantino with shorter hair. Not only am I going to be juggling Luigi and the bike repairs, the normal routine will be going on, and because this is Ducati's homerace, Pramac's homerace, and many team members' homerace, we've have VIP's and guests galore. All part of the job, right? Busy? No Problem!
Seventhly, it should be even more fun because there's a Spanish documentary about MotoGP (like Faster, but weekly, and on television) that will be filming me at this race and probably at Catalunya, too. Hectic. Apparently, they want to send a cameraman around with me while I'm at home between the races, too, to see what my normal life is like and to find out more about what drives the people working in the sport (Oh boy! Sleepovers!). They've covered Checa, Elias, and other Spanish people working in the races, and this time around they'll be concentrating on Barros and myself. The media folks and some of the people at Dorna pointed the show's director towards me, saying, there's a crazy Hawaiian guy you need to talk to. I'm hoping it gets edited well and I don't come out looking like a goon. I still don't even know the name of the show (nor had I even heard about it or seen it), but when I can get some of it in a digital format, I'll try and make some of it available so you guys will have a chance to see what it's like for me working at the races and then working/living out of Barcelona. This project sounds a lot different than the MTV production going on, which makes me happy, but they're Spanish and everyone always says they'll call or email "manana", hahaha, hence my lack of information. Filming a non-XXX video? Check!
Eighthly, I came across this
Funny Video featuring the World Champ. Sorry if it's a repost, but it's new to me. Drawl? Check!
Ninthly, I ran across this neat little trallie/dual-sport/motardie thing in France. See if you can guess what it is, and sorry for the hack-job photoshop. I had to get rid of the brand name in a couple places. All Things Moto? Check!
And Tenthly? I put together a
Lap of Le Mans for you guys, and I can honestly say that I would NOT like to race here in the wet (well, that's not totally true, hahahaha, I'd love to race here). Mad props to Chris Vermeulen for stomping the field and notching his first win! Chris for the win? Check!
And bonus eleventh item?
The End of the World. NOT SUITABLE FOR MINORS (You know who you are!)
Woot! Catch up with you guys later!
ing, but at least Hofmann is tied in points with Nicky Hayden. That has got to feel good in Switzerland right about now (where Alex lives). 
