Every year bike show season comes around and we start to daydream about new bikes or pieces of kit however, in the last 2 years, we have missed out due to the global pandemic.  The last show I went to before everything hit the fan was EICMA 2019, it was my first visit to Milan, and the show and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so when the opportunity came around again I jumped at it.

After its first year of ownership, I booked my BMW R1200 GSA into Fersan BMW in Alicante for its annual service and some new tyres.  This didn’t go entirely to plan as no tyres were available, I think they forgot to order them, however they did find my bike had missed 2 recalls so a second appointment was necessary.

A week later arriving at the dealership I had about 2hrs to wait so wandered into the showroom to have a nose about before heading to a café for breakfast.  After looking at the R Nine T Urban GS 40th anniversary edition, rather nice I might add, I spotted a new GSA with plates on and remembered they had a demonstrator.

On my birthday my wife suggested I took the bike away for a couple of days. Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, the following morning I set off, for a weekend in the Valencian mountains. Unfortunately, the then-current Covid restrictions meant I couldn't leave the Communidad de Valenciana and cafe, bars etc closed early causing a few issues, more of that later.

What better way to spend a sunny Sunday morning than messing about on dirt bikes!

It's been a good few years since I have been off road in any capacity, the last time being on our old BMW F650, riding some tracks in the valley near my home.  This would be different though, a two and a half hour training session with a flat track twist.

I know this isn't bike related but thought you would like to see me throw myself off a building.

The following paragraphs were written for a local magazine in June 2006 and are an account of my first ever track day, held at Ricardo Tormos Circuit on the outskirts of Valencia on the Costa Blanca.