 The Italian Grand Prix saw more frustration for Ellison |
I can imagine the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello was exciting for anyone who was watching or doing well, but it was more frustration for me. When things are going well, you can appreciate it, but I just wish I could have been part of the show.
I got a really good start and tried to pass my team-mate Carlos Checa on the first corner but there was a bit of commotion.
He got past Alex Hoffman earlier than I did, and I managed to keep the same distance between the two of us for a while, but then I lost traction.
After the race, we then had a few days of testing at the track and I wanted to be on the pace from the very start.
I was trying to go fast straight out of the box, rather than taking my time to build up speed because I wanted the information quicker than normal.
This was the only time that I've done this, and after one-and-a-half laps I crashed.
They'd been cleaning the track after the race the previous day, and there was something left on the surface.
 | Catalunya was the first test of the year, and I finished fourth overall in testing there |
The bike was wrecked, completely snapped, so the guys worked flat out to build me a new bike.
They finally got it fixed, I did one lap and it started raining, so we came back in.
The whole testing day was wasted.
After one meeting is over, all you want to do is get to the next round and improve, so that's why it was so frustrating to crash.
We had so much we wanted to do, but we've had to wait for the next meeting, at Catalunya this weekend.
You need something to keep you busy, so in my case I came home for a few days.
My girlfriend is going to work in Camp America for three months and I won't see her for a while, so I spent some time with her.
 The Barcelona circuit has been a happy hunting ground in the past |
I also got to catch up with my mates and watch the England v Paraguay match at the Walkabout in Lancaster, which was great.
My expectations for the weekend aren't high, but I always go with the attitude of wanting to do as best I can, and I have done well at this track before.
Catalunya was the first test of the year, and I finished fourth overall in testing there - I even led for 25 out of the 45 minutes of the session, so that's useful.
Mum and Dad are coming to watch this weekend too, which doesn't usually get to happen, so I'm looking forward to the race.
James Ellison is writing a regular column for this website throughout the MotoGP season
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