Andy

I just bought "skeeder" repellent. Jungle strength

DANI WINS, NICKY SECOND IN SHANGHAI SHOWDOWN This MotoGP contest will be remembered as the race where the amazing Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V) established himself as a new force in the top class with a debut premier category win at his fourth attempt. His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) was second and Colin Edwards (Yamaha) was third. After unsettled weather for the two days of practice, race day was hot and dry with the track temperature at 26 degrees and ambient at 31 degrees. A modest crowd of 32,000 was in place as the lights signaled the start of this, the fourth race of the season. Dani made the holeshot from the grid into turn one, but ran wide at the apex of the first right-hander allowing Edwards through to take the lead with the other front row qualifier John Hopkins (Suzuki) taking up second place. With 22-laps of this 5.281km track ahead of them in debilitating conditions, this was always going to be a race where the fittest riders would prevail, and where the best set-up machines would reduce rider fatigue by a significant amount. Edwards and Hopkins made the early running until mid-race distance when Dani, who had started from pole and dropped to fifth by lap two completed his charge to the front. At the start of lap 10 Dani used his speed along the pit straight to slip past Edwards and lead into turn one. His team-mate Nicky, riding hard for his second career win, stuck fast to Dani in second place as the Honda duo left Edwards and Hopkins in their wake. The Americans disputing third place would eventually finish more than 14 seconds adrift of the RC211V-mounted pacesetters. As the Honda runners exchanged fastest laps with one another as Hayden put the pressure on the leader and Pedrosa responded to it, the time dropped from Pedrosa

Can I borrow Trevor for the weekend? I found this and it scared me a bit. I need a snake expert.

Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool I'll hold you to that BTW, we're in the Holiday Inn Express in Kimball. There doesn't seem to be a Hooters in Kimball

Thinking about it, I really need to get onto this ASAP. I'll talk to Jake & Mart when we're in the US and hopefully have a basic plan sorted out by the time I get back. What I do know: Pre-registration is almost a certainty due to the issues last year. No registration, no entry. Just looked into pricing of marquee hire and some form of payment towards cost of hiring a good-sized tent is very likely. There's no way I can take the hit of hiring myself. It's an expensive game!

How big do you want to go? Last year was fine for the size of the tent, but a bigger tent would require a bigger screen and more powerful projector. They'd have to be hired as the projector I used was the one I carry around for work.

Checked the Classifieds on this site? Plenty bikes on there plus you can add your own "wanted" ad. Where are you located?

Warning: This is a 32.5MB download! Warning 2: It contains a lot of swearing. Other than that, it is bloody good - other than riding over some poor sod's car. Hardly gives a good impression...

Looking forward to it. I believe the forecast is rain, but that didn't stop us last year

One bottle of Miller Lite and he'll have a pencil up each nostril, a pair of underpants on his head and be singing the song about the Goblins

Al - Atomant isn't much of a drinker. Bit of a girly if truth be told Even as weak as your beer is, it won't take much to get him falling over

I've fired an email off to the guy that runs Taddy's site. He should be able to help us.

I'll be there with camera.

It was brought to my attention whilst in Fort William that Tommy passed away during SSDT week. With everything going on I omitted to mention this on Trials Central. Plenty of you will have known Tommy and many of you who have ridden will have crossed swords with him at some point! Tommy was one of those characters that the Scottish is so well known for. Every year he drove up in his Reliant Robin via A and B roads because he wasn't allowed on motorways, but still he made it - even when he was well into his 90's. Many times I've seen that little three-wheeler parked up in a layby beside the "Time Control Start" sign like some kind of cop car and imagined him giving chase. It raised a laugh every time. He'll be missed by all who knew him. RIP wee man.

Bear in mind who Dib's manager is these days. He's more than a bit gay, but he does have a bit of experience in this field I'd expect to see more of this kind of stuff.

This may be a world exclusive and strictly a one-off, but Big John has been caught on camera with his feet up (which is more times than he's been caught with his wallet out) I'm not sure the Sherco rig-out is really befitting of the Pre-65, but when you're in your second childhood, who are we to protest?

As the countdown to the second Grand Prix of China begins, there can be little doubt that Honda

Gav - as I said to your sidekick at the weekend, you lads would be far better off getting involved with the Trial and maybe doing a year or two observing or even back-marking before entering. Back-marking would be ideal - learn the course before throwing yourself in at the deep end. you're young. You've PLENTY time to ride it. Make sure you're ready first... Besides, according to your partner in crime you just have to stub your toe at a trial and that's good enough reason to retire

You're kidding, right? Front page, left hand column. you'll find hundreds

I was in a layby and totally agree with all four wheels off the road. I've seen some real dumb parking in my time up there!

Blimey!

We were in the West End Hotel watching the windows shake...

Friday was cracking weather - which nobody expected after the totally amazing thunderstorm we had on Thursday night. It was one of the most spectacular I've ever seen.

Friday from a spectators point of view is, in my opinion, the best day of the SSDT. It's a "must-do" in my book. The majority of sections are pretty close to the road and you get the awesome drive round Moidart where the views are absolutely stunning. Meandering round this year, I stopped off and took some shots I've stitched together to give some idea of what it's like out there. It doesn't really do it justice, but if you've never been, take a look at this panorama. (1.3MB so dial-up users beware).

Honda riders continued their domination of the 2006 World Supersport Championship, but unlike the first three races of the season, world championship leader Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) was not the winner. That honour went to WSS rookie Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda CBR600RR) who turned an eighth place qualifying performance into an impressive victory in front of a sun-drenched Italian crowd. Honda riders have won every race this season and Monza delivered the first all Honda podium of the season to boot. Honda now leads the Manufacturers