7 March 2005
Pre-season testing, Misano Adriatico, Italy
With the 2005 Season only four weeks away, Team Diablo 666 Bolliger Kawasaki along with its partners, Bolliger Kawasaki, organised this test to blow the cobwebs off the ZX 10’s both teams will once again be using in this years World Endurance Racing Championship, prior to the first round of the 2005 season at Assen. Within hours of departure for Bologna Forli Airport, Miles Hutchins received a call from Hanspeter Bolliger to say that the weather in Switzerland was snow, snow and more snow and the forecast for the Misano area wasn’t much better.

With the riders desperate for any track time prior to the first round at Assen, the decision was made for part of the original Diablo party to fly out to Misano to find out if it was possible to test or not before Hanspeter set off on the 650 kilometre drive.

Landing at Bologna Forli airport, Thursday night, where the snow ploughs had been out clearing the runway, things looked bleak!

First inspection at the circuit on Friday, where the temperature was a typical Mediterranean -1 degree C, the track looked superb with a handful of riders braving the freezing conditions. With no sun and no wind, “parts of the circuit were wet and extremely slippery”, we were informed by a frozen Austrian rider, impersonating MotoGP rider Capirossi, on his number 65 MV Agusta.

After many calls between Misano and Switzerland, Team Principal, Miles Hutchins made the final decision to not have Hanspeter Bolliger trek down to Misano. This decision was further complicated by the possibility of another test being organised by Bolliger for two weeks time at another famous circuit, Mugello, where it was hoped that the weather would be more favourable. This would be only the weekend before the first round at Assen, where at the moment the circuit is covered with 30cm of snow.

With return flights booked for Sunday the intrepid squad stayed on for a Team break to take in the beautiful but deserted tourist area of Rimini. A trip down to Mugello to check out the circuit the intrepid explorers also took in such memorable tourist sites as the snow laden Tuscany Hills, the beautiful Ponti di Vecchio and David’s statue in Florence, the wonderful picturesque mountain tax haven of San Marino and MacDonald’s in Forli! The riders particularly liked the look of some of the sights in the local Disco’s especially at about 6 in the morning.

After a 100 kilometre drive down to Mugello to check out the circuit for the test in two weeks time, the team were greeted with the warmest greeting from the resident Italian Security Guard greeting, “you ees notta coming in here, you ees notta Valentino Rossi!” Cheers mate we’ll sort you out in a fortnight! The circuit looked superb (from behind the security fencing of the overlooking hill). James and Kevin both agreed the circuit looked awesome. Two weeks to wait before they could try the circuit out. Doh!

All in all the weekend was a great break and team-building event. Much sampling of the local culinary delights and vino was undertaken in true British style. The weather has ruined the plans of many of the top motorcycle racing teams over the last month. Why should Diablo 666 be any different?

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