A Blast from the past - Peter is back in touch.

Hi Everyone.

Found the site again!!.

Here's a quick update on life since last time.
We left Brunei in December 2006, and as there wasn't enough space in the container the BMW 1100R had to be sold. It was a good bike and I had covered quite a few miles in tropical Borneo on it. We are now in Oman, Middle East where the temperatures are 10 deg up (today is 40 deg outside) and during the summer nearly too hot for motor cycling. I have shipped the Triumph Trident with me (wouldn't be parted from my mistress) and I have built a nice little air-conditioned shed for her.

I am working for Petroleum Development Oman. Oman is a lovely place, the people are friendly and have a good sense of humour. As opposed to other Gulf states they are prepared to work - the division of the income from oil and gas is distributed quite well by the Sultan and the government.

The country started development only in mid-seventies when the current Sultan took power, and since then schools (at the rate of 1 per week)have been built, roads, hospitals etc. The people are well looked after. Free education, free medical, and petrol 120bz a litre.- that’s about 15 pence a litre. And then there is no income tax, no VAT no purchase tax etc etc. Now you know why I left Britain 10 years ago.
Biking here is a bit hazardous as the quality of driving is rubbish.
Many expats have off road Hondas and head off into the desert but the locals still prefer the big cruisers. There are Harley D, Yamaha, Honda and Kawa shops for general bike bits but I have to get my spares sent out from the UK. BMW are about to open so I will treat myself to a new R1200GS as they are about 30% - 40% cheaper here than UK.
Jean and I went to the Qatar moto GP this year and stayed in teh same hotel as a certain Valentino Rossi. In fact the Yamaha team had lunch at the same time we did. Also Chris Vermeulen, and the BBC commentary team -I had a chat with Steve Parrish!!! Am I sad???
The practice and races were at night under floodlights which seemed to make very little difference except of practice night it was freezing. The temp was down to about 15 deg. But on race night. Well, an old friend managed to get VIP tickets so we were in the free drinks and booze areas above the pits. Then this friend's wife says "there's Enrique" and disappears. Comes back 10 minutes later with this Spanish bloke who sits down at our table and introduces himself as CEO of Dorna. And would we like to walk around the pits. Premium Paddock passes are produced and we are are escorted through the pits to pit lane as the 125's are going out, then into the Dorna hospitality suite, then the broadcast studios - 20 people 35 screens. Then as the 125 finishes - would we like to go onto the 250 cc grid. Grid passes come out of Enrique's pocket and we are on the 250 grid, talking to the safety car drivers, and walking down the bikes. Then we watch the 250 race from pit wall. Unbelievable. We watched the MotoGP from the VIP stand in the centre of the circuit.

I am planning to be in the UK on August for the Beezumph rally at
Cadwell Park - most of the Anglo American match race riders are there - remember that series in the seventies?? Then to Italy for 2 weeks -
catching the Italian GP in the process. Keith came over a few years ago - how about a full team turn out this year??

Ride safe and shiny side up.

Attached pic is The Mistress with me and the youngest daughter.

Sign me up as a contributor , please.
(Invite issued - Roger)

Peter Lawrenson