I have an early lunch with DD and then take a nap. It’s my first moment of proper rest since I got here.
Pic: Webventure.com.brAt 4pm I return to the box area where the atmosphere is a carnival one. There are plenty of pretty girls wandering about, photographers everywhere and lots of people from the general public trying to get in to have a look. Bikes are revving up and moving to the
park ferme. This is it, the waiting is almost over at last.
How far the Uruguayans have got with my bike? Not far at all I think, but then what do I know, it looks the same to me. Marcelo says “Todos esta bien, no problemo no problemo,” everything is fine. It´s okay they reassure me, and hand the bike to me to take to the
park ferme where the bikes will be left until the start at 7 pm. It starts okay, and the light works but they warn me not to use it, the stator is unable to produce enough voltage to power everything on the bike. They will re-wire it tomorrow after the 1st stage and install a new regulator, the stock one would melt on the upgraded stator. I look at the mechanics, bewildered. I have no idea what they are talking about. They nod back at me and pat me on the back.
I get on my bike and ride it to the
park ferme. The atmosphere is thrilling. Hundreds of people mill about taking video and snaps on cell phones and cameras. Some of us pull wheelies and pose big-time on our flash machines. Girls in tank-tops scream and jump at the sight of us on our machines. We weave out of the box area into a mad traffic jam around the park. It’s great to slip through on our bikes. The din is incredible. Little roadside shops have sprouted up everywhere selling curios and fast food.
Absolute chaos abounds until I arrive at the
park ferme, where again I am met with strict control.

I am allowed into a large fenced-off parking area, sterile of people and I park up in the one of long rows of bikes near the edge and turn off everything.

My bike is one of the last in before the cutoff time of 16h30. Guys on the outside gaze covetously at my bike and its characteristic design. They ask me to pose for a picture. I oblige willingly, before being chased out of the area by an official. Nearby the local radio station is broadcasting live from a vehicle overlooking the track. Huge speakers boom out an excited voice calling talking about the event.
Pic: Webventure.com.brHelicopters full of pressmen snapping pictures buzz around like angry mosquitoes. I’m beginning to feel what it’s like to be a hero and I haven’t even started riding yet!

I meet up with Phil and Dave and we walk the track. It doesn’t look too bad at all.


A huge flag has been setup off two cranes over the track
I return to my room for another short rest, a meal, a couple of calls and to dress for the start.

We walk kitted up to the bikes around 7pm. Now if this is not an advert for Acerbis gear, I dont know what is!

The air is electric with anticipation. Crowds walk with us to fill the stands. There is time for us to go into the VIP area and have a glass of water, served by awestruck waiters.

Phil & Dave are also a little pensive. Their Brazilian championship numbers are 44 & 45, the last bikes on the list. The reverse start order for the prologue means they will be among the first bikes out there after the Brazilian quads and Sertoes Series bikes. Other VIPs come up to us and ask to take photos of us. We oblige happily, but battle to look relaxed and smile over our nervousness.
Pic: Webventure.com.br

We have made it to the start! It’s quite an achievement in its own right and we toast one another with our cups of water.

The event kicks off with the national anthem and followed immediately by a breathtaking fireworks and laser display.

It’s pretty impressive. The first quads go flying out while the crowd of perhaps 25,000 people go absolutely nuts. It’s very contagious. Brazilians are clearly exceptionally passionate people. I line up with all the riders to watch the first bikes as well. The crowd is roaring in approval and excitement, a Mexican wave following the riders around the track.
One poor guy cooks it on a corner and low-sides and spins out beautifully, almost face-planting as he goes down. The crowd bellows some in sympathy and others with delight, while he bravely leaps up and tears off again like a man possessed.

Dave and Phil look at each other and are off to the start. I smile as Phil, in his element waves at the crowd. They hoot with approval; he has won their hearts instantly as the DJ yells over the intercom about the “Dois Americanos Phil y Dave!!” They shoot off and make the two laps without mishap.

I decide to go to my bike and warm it up, riding it up and down in the Park Ferme with the light off, to give the battery a boost and to warm it up. Well, that is my theory anyway. I take my position in the line and wait for my turn, turning off my bike and pushing it forward.
Being in the world championship means I am riding with all the expert riders.

I’m racing with this Chilean guy Rodrigo Caballero, he looks like he should still be in school! I fool myself into thinking he will maybe be a walkover. Ludo Boinnard has No. 110 and is starting behind me, with guys like David Casteau, Dimas Matthos, Ike Klaumann, Kuba Przygonski, and Marc Coma with Ze Helio just behind them. Holy crap! Ludo just winks and gives me a thumbs up! He must have seen the whites of my eyes. I grin and wish him all the best.
We roll the bikes forward gradually to the top of a 20m ramp down to the course without starting engines. The two rows of two bikes waiting at the edge of the track with engines running, and then one row is waved onto the start.
It’s our turn to go down. I switch the ignition on. Nothing. Darn. Check switches. No light, no fans, nothing. I try the starter. Nothing. F***!!! I notice my HID light switch is on, I can’t remember which way is on or off now. Has it drained the battery? F***, didn’t I turn it off? I was sure it was off, I must have bumped it on somehow. Is it off now? Shit, I hope so. Not to worry, just take it easy Neil. You can still kick start the bike easily enough. Check fuel valve. Okay, its on.
Kick, kick, kick, kick….kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick...nothing. F***!!!!!!!

Kick, kick, kick, kick, I’m kicking my ass off and nothing. I stop, breathing heavily and wonder if I’m going to have to pull out, when Ludo comes forward and suggests he push me down the ramp. I wheeze a thank you, and off we go.
Change into 2nd gear okay clutch out. Nothing. I roll down some more this time getting a bit more speed, clutch out: Nothing. Shit, I only have 5m left! I roll on gravity paddling as I go nearly flattening two camera guys as the bike bursts into life at the last bloody second. Holy shit.

I’m sucking air like an oxygen thief as I barely stop the bike on the edge of the track. Once I’m sure the engine won’t die on me when I idle back, I ease off on the throttle. The guys in front of us wiz past on the first lap. I’m too scared to let the clutch out in case I stall it. I rip on my goggles with my right hand, but they’re so steamed up I can’t see jack shit. I can clean them but I need two hands. No way I’m risking that now. I don’t yet know the sweet spot on my clutch. I think I’m in second still so I kick down to first. Check all support circuits and lights are OFF. Not ideal, but this is survival, the stadium floodlights will have to do.
Then I notice the bloody photographer trying to get a close up of my face. Well the photo will just have to be crap. I’ve got more important stuff to worry about right now. I can just see some of the track through the goggles with one eye. Once I’m going I know they will clear. I have 30m to the start, let’s hope that’s enough.
We are waved onto the track and I charge off, stalling the bike. Oh F***, this is it. I’m going to have push the bike off the field in front of thousands of freaking spectators. There nowhere even to push it, I’m on the track. The shame!
Praying, I get the kick-start lever out and first kick the bike is running again. I’m stunned.
I scream in 1st up to the blurry figure at the start line. My vision is still crap. At least I can see the timing board. Amazingly, there are still 35 seconds left to calm down. The official tells me I must do the longer outside loop first, after the first loop, suicide switch onto the inner loop and complete the second round. 15 seconds.

I instruct myself to take deep breaths and relax. Please God don’t let me stall again. I’m so distracted I miss the green light and young Rodrigo appears in my peripheral vision. I zoom off hot on his tail before splitting off on my loop.

It’s a soft, deeply rutted track with really sharp curves. No problem, but I find second gear is longer than on my KTM back home, not that much torque so I am forced to take it wide. The next corner is better because it’s a left hand one and I work the back brake sliding the bike around. A small jump in front of the crowds who cheer the South African, one of the few foreign pilots. The course is not hard but I’m battling to get used to gear ratios and I’m peaking at the wrong places, at one point get into third too soon and miss a gear completely going down and scream along a straight in first. What a drama class.
I get a nice power slide on the last curve and some air on the finish ramp before taking on the second loop.

It goes a little better, and despite my poor performance I don’t see Rodrigo anywhere, wow I must be in front. I start enjoying the ride, I can see a bit better now, I can hear the crowds cheering me. The jumps are very small but I manage to get a little air. The springbokkie and I are going to make it. I get to the finish and follow the route out of the stadium only to see Rodrigo pulling off after accepting from a small prize from a rally girl in a lycra suit for winning our bout. Hahaha! Time to eat some humble pie. It all seems over in a flash. I am thrilled as I ride back around to the box area. It’s nice to be out on the road cruising along after all of that, even if I have no light. I stick close to Rodrigo, I don’t want to be hit by a car now.
I later learn I was out there for only 00:01:59.10, Rodrigo was exactly 15 seconds faster than me. He came 24th while I managed 53rd out of 68 riders. Dave came in one second faster and got 51st position while Phil took it easy and came 66th with a time of 00:02:21.30.

Marc Coma takes it easy and came 12th, seven seconds behind the leader, with Ze Helio coming second and Brazilian Felipe Miranda winning with a time of 00:01:27.10.
Frankly, I am just glad to finish. I get back to Marcelo and tell him my problem. He would look into it. I get back to see the first cars tearing the track and danger tape up, very impressive.
After watching a couple more cars and trucks I leave for the hotel and an early night’s sleep after calling Mrs. BB and Rallyraidio. Tomorrow was
Stage 1, we would be starting the real rally in earnest. I want to make a strong performance.