If the French event was hot and dusty then the Italian event was worse. I arrived on Thursday afternoon in Verona Brescia airport to tremendous heat. I'd been back in the cold and wet UK for Mon - Weds to save my holidays for the later rounds of the WEC. I caught the school bus to Rodengo Saiano! With such short time before the event I only managed to walk each of the 5 tests once and I had about 30 mins on the bike as I changed jetting and suspension settings. I'd never scored in Italy before so I was desperate to remedy this in 2003. On day 1 I only just scraped a point with 15th in class and 46th overall. The tests were faster than we'd seen this season and required a bit of bottle. On Sunday i was determined to twist the throttle for a little bit longer and I was rewarded with 13th in class and 36th overall out of 95 starters. Still not the results I know I'm capable of but with such a strong presence in the 250cc class I was satisfied with at least a few points. David Knight had a storming ride on Sunday to finish 4th overall but frustratingly for him only 3rd in class. Also on Sunday three of the class leaders went out as both Sala's and Aro's KTMs and Pohjamo's Gas Gas expired. I feel particularly sorry for a Sala as he's long been a hero of mine and he had just won day one to extend his lead over Yamaha's Peter Bergvall. With only two rounds left none of the classes are yet sown up which is going to make for one of the most exiting climax' to the championship in recent years. Roll on Finland and Sweden!!!!