GP miss was real sickener
By Olly Stone on 14th Sep 12
What a start to your home GP being stuck in hospital with an IV in your arm due to no fault of your own as a result of food poisoning!
You can imagine how disappointed I was having to watch the practice times on my phone, as I was laid up.
The doctors let me leave, thinking I was going home for two weeks of bed rest – but they were mistaken.
I managed to get back to the track in time for the heat race.
I was lucky to have an injured rider's mechanic that weekend to take over and spanner for Jake while I was sick.
As much as I wanted to work on the bike I hadn't the energy to even walk up some stairs and didn't want to risk making any mistakes.
Just to be there and cheer on Jakey riding a bike I built was a consolation, but better than watching it at home on TV like the doctors insisted.
I want to say a big thanks to Romain, who stepped up that weekend and helped me out.
So the following week resulted in me staying in England and pretty much sleeping.
Believe me when I say I couldn't wait to get back to work the following weekend. So I packed my stuff and headed back to Belgium to get things sorted for Lierop.
With us being in the Nations team we have been spending a little more time riding round our back garden – Lommel.
Neil Prince came over and before Lierop we got a chance to ride with the rest of Team UK.
Lierop didn't really go to plan though. Jake hurt his back early on in moto two and could only ride around salvaging some points.
The silver lining was that we are now up to fourth in the championship.
But hats off to Jeff Herlings. What he did that day – lapping up to third place – was phenomenal.
I just watched it back on TV and the footage makes the track seem flat. You guys need to attend this race in the future as it's the roughest and hardest race ever!
With only two GPs left I am looking forward to it being over.
It's a long old season and all the travelling gets to you after a while. I'm writing this while on my way to Faenza. I just hope it's not a mud fest like back in 2009.
One last thing. If you are heading to the Nations, make sure you get behind our guys.
I want to see the Union Jacks outnumber all other flags.
This year we have a good shot at a podium and I will be doing everything possible to make sure Jake and his bike are ready.
