The second half of the season is set to be difficult for the team as most of the circuits are not suited to the Proton.

We had our problems in the opening part of the year but improved performances in qualifying and racing have lifted our spirits.

The new chassis has worked well and the Bridgestone tyres have improved steadily.

Already, we are starting to examine how we can build on this next season to become a genuinely competitive force.

The Czech Republic round at Brno this weekend is going to be difficult as the track includes four long straights.

Good tests

I hear it has been raining there a lot recently so I hope it continues this weekend as it would give us a more level playing field.

Malaysia and Japan could also be hard work but I am looking forward to going to Portugal as we had some good tests there in the spring.

I love the Philip Island track in Australia and we could do reasonably well there.

For the remaining seven races, we face the prospect of at least one extra Honda four-stroke on the grid.

Daijiro Katoh will be on board a Honda V5 despite the fact that he has not enjoyed a great season up to this point.

I have been beating him for most of the season and hopefully that can continue if he struggles to come to terms with the new machinery.

Road races

During the mid-season break, I went to the Harley Davidson convention in South Dakota with my team boss Kenny Roberts.

It is something I thought I would never do but I must have ridden at least ten or twelve Harleys. We managed to fit in quite a bit of partying too.

I also enjoyed a family holiday in County Fermanagh and then attended the Ulster Grand Prix public road races at the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland.

It was a very sad day as one of the country's top road racers, Gary Jess, was killed.

We all know road racing is dangerous but there seems to be a tragedy there every year I go and I will not be going back again.

I will still attend the North West 200 races but, in my view, that is the only road race that deserves to be supported.