Like everyone else, I get really excited about riding dirt bikes. So when I was invited to Spain to test the Varg in the Stark worldwide launch, it was a no brainer that I would be attending. Instantly the nerves set in; I was going to travel solo, half-way across the world for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I would be lying if I said I had a good night’s sleep in the week leading up to the launch. Nervous as anything, I arrived at the airport super early to calm my nerves. I found myself pacing the airport; just knowing I’d be cramped up for the next 30+ hours until I arrived in Barcelona was stressing me out. Fortunately though, for my first flight leg of 14 hours, I found myself sitting in economy plus — that extra legroom is much needed when you’re 6ft tall. After watching a few movies, eating some pretty standard airplane food, and having nowhere near enough sleep, I found myself landing in Abu Dhabi. During my 3.5-hour layover, I walked around, marvelling at the sheer size and set up of this airport. Soon I was boarding the next plane. Being a 3am flight, nearly everyone on the flight was asleep, so I found myself having a more relaxing seven hours to myself. After landing at Barcelona and collecting my bags, a Stark team member greeted me with my name on a sign — shit I felt like royalty. We drove 45minutes outside of Barcelona to the small town of Caldes de Montbui, which is absolutely stunning — wineries to one side and quaint houses on cobblestone streets to the other. I arrived at the hotel at 10am and by now I was pretty knackered from all the travelling and little sleep. I was also sweating from the temperature difference so I got out of my winter clothes and straight into shorts and tee to go exploring. I wandered around until 4pm just in awe with this little town, the buildings and the way of life. Then I had this bright idea to have a power nap before a team dinner with Stark and guest riders, who were also staying at the hotel. Nek minnit I found myself waking up at 2am, pitch black and very hungry. I was pretty peeved that I missed the dinner, but there was no going back to sleep, so I just sat there in the early hours of the morning getting my riding gear ready and counting down the hours until breakfast.
THE LAUNCH
We met at 7am for breakfast and at this point I realised I took my last
