After a long wait 'cross season has finally started! As most years I have plans to be fit and fast at the beginning of the season. I don't remember this happening for several years despite my love of field driving. This year the lure of a new bike and even more tools for pre and post race should have brought extra motivation for speed. But not to be--I race for fun. Of course in Europe the "fun" is still about racing.

Saturday's race in Montfoort should have been a perfect one for me. Mud, mud and more mud. Of course being the American here gets a last place call up-58th on the grid means a tough day passing on a tight course. No pit crew equals one mud packed bike after a lap. A lackluster warmup turned into a "no go" kind of day-while fun there was certainly no race in the legs. Happy to survive with only a few crashes and 37th by the end.

Sunday a fresh start at the MNC series. Back row start again, I don't receive points (darn foreigners!). Caught behind a few crashes and slow going on the first lap. After two laps I can see the group a long way off and a big gap in the middle. Unlike Saturday I had some drive; chasing forever but managed to jump up a group or two. Got one just on the line. No idea where I finished-really doesn't matter. Nice to feel like racing again.