Well after being in hibernation for the last five months the racing season finally kicked off and this is the first opportunity I ve had to write something a little bit more personal on my website as opposed to the race reports I ve posted! Bar being another year older, 21 again, things are pretty good!

Things got into action towards the end of March and this has been my first weekend at home since then! We started with the pre season test at Snetterton, which I have to say was absolutely freezing, the weather didn t get much better at the World Superbikes at Donington Park the week later. In fact it was that cold that I got a call from Whit on the Friday morning asking when I was due to go to Donington, as it happened I was just about to leave. I was slightly intrigued as to why he wanted to know, I then found out.

‚ Carly, it s Whit, I need you to do me a huge favour, when you going to Doni?

‚ Today, why s that?

‚ I need you to stop off somewhere and buy Haga a heater, as he s too cold and struggling to feel his hands!

Ok so I ve had some odd requests in my time but that has to go in near the top! As Whit knows I live in the middle of nowhere so I had to do a slight detour to Argoose on the way to Doni, it seemed to work though as he won the second race. Plus Whit gave me a shout out on Eurosport and also managed to convince the team he only won because of the heater ‚ nothing to do with his riding ability then Whit?!

I still haven t heard it as I didn t get it on tape but people still keep mentioning the fact that Whit mentioned it which is pretty amusing. After Donington I packed my winter wardrobe and headed for the first BSB at Brands, not knowing it was going to be roughly 20oC all weekend.

It was great to get the season underway again although I don t know where the time went as I spent most of the weekend running round like a headless chicken trying to work out all the new colour schemes and numbers of my riders this season. I m writing for nine riders, 10 when Brendan (Roberts) is back to full fitness after his injury. He suffered quite a nasty crash in testing, through no fault of his own and dislocated his right wrist pretty badly and broke the socket which the small bones sit in, the pictures of the operation are pretty gruesome ‚ thanks for those Bren.

For those that don t know he s riding for the Xerox Ducati Junior Team in the European Superstock Class. Adding to that in the UK I m working for Hawk Kawasaki, Leon Camier (personal website), Centurion Racing, Riders Racing Ducati and Dijon Compton ‚ which is enough to keep anyone busy!

Brands went pretty well, I have to say that Shafter aka Mr Camier did a marvellous job in his first ever Superbike races and got a second and third. I can t say I was surprised as I ve worked with him since 2004 and new just how smooth and what a talent he is. My folks seem to have adopted him as a second son and he often comes and stays with us on his way ‚ up North , Dad and him sit and put the world to rights for hours on end! It was so nice to see him on the podium in Superbikes, yet slightly strange seeing his name on the times sheets in front of such huge names like Kiyonari and Haslam. Great to see him smiling again, it wasn t the best of years in 2006 but these things are sent to test us and make us stronger, hopefully this year will be a good one for him.

There have been a few doubters about Leon over the years and I do hope that he will prove them wrong. He s a great lad with huge potential and I treat him like a kid brother, but when it comes to his racing I ve not met anyone as focused and dedicated to it as he is. Thankfully he carried his form to Thruxton and got a second and fifth, there were a few who thought Brands was a fluke ‚ fingers crossed it s a good one for him!

Brands and Thruxton went fairly smoothly, I have some new boys on board this season with Hawk and they are finding their feet in the British Championship, a huge jump if you ask me but they seem to be coping pretty well. Dan and Westy at Centurion are getting to grips with their Supersport bikes, both making the big step up from 125 s. Westy had a great result at Thruxton finishing fourth.

The weather at Brands and Thruxton has been worryingly hot and it just makes you wonder how long it will be before our first wet race, would be nice to have a wet free year, but we are in the UK so I can t ask for too much. The guys have done me proud so far and hope the season will carry on going from strength to strength!

It s been a long month but I m glad the racing has started again, keeps me busy and also stops me from shopping, which as I have found this weekend is a good filler for being bored!!

Also a big congratulations to Steve Plater and his girlfriend on their arrival of their new daughter Yazmin born on 17.04.07 weighing a healthy 6lb 9oz. They will both make great parents and I m looking forward to seeing them all at Silverstone.

Will try and keep you updated with more news soon, take it easy.

Speak soon

Carly