Round 5 - Racing Alongside MotoGP: The Ultimate Adrenaline Rush!
After round 4 at brands, I enjoyed some quality time with my teammate George and his wonderful family. I continued training, had the chance to explore the exciting city of Leeds, and indulged in a variety of fun activities.
I was thrilled when an opportunity arose after Brands Hatch to rejoin my crew under a team with George. It got even better when Mr. Microlise generously purchased a bike for me, enabling me to get back in the running for the championship. This was some of the best news I've received all year! I'm beyond excited to start the MotoGP weekend and return to the level of performance I know I'm capable of.
Thursday morning's 3am wake-up call was totally worth it – the excitement of picking up our passes and rolling into Silverstone for the GP weekend was unreal! Seeing all the massive MotoGP trucks and the paddock is always a mind-blowing experience.
I was absolutely pumped to have my DBP squad join me in the UK for this round, their energy is infectious! After getting settled in the paddock, I had the awesome opportunity to take the stage with the top 5 championship contenders. Sharing the season's highlights with the crowd was an incredible buzz.
Next up was the BTC track walk, which was an absolute dream. Being surrounded by world championship riders as they whizzed by on the track was a surreal experience, although it made focusing on my notes a bit of a challenge!
By Thursday evening, the bike was all prepped and ready to roar, the anticipation for Friday morning was almost too much to handle!
Waking up to the roar of Moto3 bikes on Friday morning was an absolute adrenaline rush – the best alarm clock ever! I soaked in all the FP1 action, still in awe of the MotoGP riders' insane speed around the track. We got to sit right next to the track and see the speed that they go through the corners. Just mind-blowing!
Heading into our first practice, my focus was on fine-tuning the bike for the weekend ahead. We finished a bit off the pace, which wasn't ideal, but the bike was definitely getting closer to perfection with every lap. After a few tweaks, it was time for the FP2 and qualifying frenzy! Sharing the track with the MotoGP guys meant a jam-packed Friday with three sessions, followed by races on Saturday and Sunday. With FP2 and qualifying just an hour apart, we stayed put in pit lane until the qualifying session kicked off.
FP2 was a massive leap forward in terms of bike handling, but I knew there was a little more magic to unlock. A quick adjustment, and we were back out on track for qualifying – and boy, was it an epic session! I instantly smashed my previous fastest time, and on my last flying lap, I caught a killer draft down two straights, weaving past a bunch of riders like a madman. I briefly held the provisional front row spot, even if it was only for two glorious seconds! We ended up settling for P5, but that didn't dampen my spirits one bit. We're in the mix, we're ready to fight, and that's all that matters!
After a productive debrief with the team, I was absolutely buzzing for race day! Our race was strategically scheduled after the MotoGP action, giving me the perfect opportunity to soak in all the excitement. I headed over to Eitan and the American Racing team to witness the Moto2 Q2 action from their box – an experience that never fails to amaze! I even managed to catch some of the Moto3 action from the service road, picking up a few valuable tips from the top riders.
As the MotoGP action concluded, it was time for me to shine. Without a warmup, I focused on getting into the zone and pushing hard on the sighting lap. Eitan, the awesome team boss from American Racing, came to the grid to wish me luck, mentioning he'd be watching – talk about an extra boost of motivation! In the initial stages of the race, I felt a slight hesitation in the bike's acceleration, but suddenly it kicked into gear, propelling me into the thick of the action. Maggots and Becketts were my absolute sweet spots on the track, and I felt like I was on another level compared to the rest of the field. I practiced a few last-lap maneuvers, knowing exactly what I needed to do. As I entered Maggots and Becketts on the final lap, I was in P5, and somehow, in a way I can't fully explain, I rocketed to P1! I was aiming for P2 or P3, but this unexpected surge was pure adrenaline. I held onto as much speed as possible to avoid being overtaken on the back straight. I got a well-timed draft from two riders, entering the final complex in P3, and fiercely defended my position for a podium finish!
P3!!! A podium at Silverstone MotoGP weekend! This was a childhood dream come true, made even more special by wearing my John Cresswell memorial helmet. I know he was watching over me, giving me the strength and determination to achieve this incredible result. After facing challenges in the previous two rounds, this podium felt like a victory. Seeing the American flag waving behind me on the podium, especially in front of the MotoGP crowd, was an unforgettable moment.
Having Tim and Buch there made it even more special, knowing how much they've supported me. Finishing on the podium in front of them was truly indescribable. After the podium celebration, I headed to the interview room, where Pedro Acosta CONGRATULATED ME! – a moment that might have even topped the podium finish itself! After my interview and a debrief with the team, I met up with Kat Parker for an interview, which was super cool and a truly enjoyable experience.
Sunday's race was a whole new ballgame compared to Saturday's! With an 8:45 am start time, it was an early wake-up call, but I was buzzing with confidence and ready to show what I could do. I had proven to myself that I could fight and contend for race wins, and starting on the front row in P2 fueled my determination.
The first few laps were a whirlwind of intense passing, with me getting shuffled back a couple of times but managing to stay at the front for a significant portion of the race. Heading into the final lap, I knew I didn't want to lead onto the back straight, anticipating a swarm of riders. P2 seemed like the ideal position, but fate had other plans! As I made my move into Maggots and Becketts, I thought victory was within reach, but suddenly, the entire pack was on my tail. It was like a scene from a movie – I got swarmed like a pack of bees going into Stowe, dropping from P1 to P5, where I ultimately finished.
While I was aiming for a double podium, I was still absolutely ecstatic with my weekend performance. I had regained my confidence and fighting spirit, and that was a victory in itself. As I rolled back to pit lane, I spotted Fabio Quartararo outside his box, and we snapped a picture together. He even dapped me up and gave me a fist bump! I was completely starstruck, and my right hand will forever remain unwashed! I might have even jumped 10 feet in the air out of pure excitement!
Since we couldn't pack up our gear just yet, I had the chance to enjoy the rest of the races trackside. Eitan generously invited me to watch the Moto2 race from the American Racing team's box, even though it was bittersweet due to Joe Roberts' unfortunate crash. Still, it was an amazing experience to be in the box with a world championship team. I then caught the MotoGP race from Tim and Buch's hotel room at the circuit, which was another cool experience.
The excitement didn't stop there! I joined some of my team members at the Monster Energy show at the circuit and even got a picture with AXEL HODGES! We chatted briefly, and he dapped me up and gave me a fist bump too! I'll never forget that moment – he's been my favorite FMX rider since his Monster series on YouTube.
This whole weekend was an absolute whirlwind of excitement, personal triumphs, and unforgettable moments. We proved that we are here to win races, and I'm filled with a renewed sense of confidence and determination. I'm incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of my team, friends, and family, and I can't wait to see what incredible highs the rest of the season holds! Let's make it an exceptional end to an unforgettable year!
This is just a "see you later" and not "goodbye" to Silverstone. I'm excited for the day I return as a Moto3 racer in a few years, ready to conquer this iconic track once again!