Gino Rea's day by day Diary - Day 3

The breakfast is China is amazing! They have about everything you can think of, including rice and noodles!!

We headed over to the track again and waited for the teams bikes and equipment to be unloaded from the storage cargos. The chinese are quite slow at things like this, they seem so relaxed and dont rush things. I, on the other hand was getting edgy and just wanted to be riding! Me and my two team riders set up all the boarding in the pit box, while my manager Andy and Yamaha guru Torlief built up the bike and set it up for me. They worked hard all day and as im sat here writing this, ready for bed, they are still working on it now. So a big thank you to them.

I attended some riders briefings and signed on, having to apply for a UAM licence. Luckily, everyone seems to speak good english so I didnt have to try my hand at Chinese.

Me and one of my team mates went for a run around the track for one last look before we ride it tomorrow. I have watched a video from last years race here and the top riders look real quick. It seems the man to beat is a 7 time Chinese and Asian supersport champion, who obviously knows the circuit like the back of his hand. I dont really know what to expect of the pace of the riders but we will just wait and see.

Tomorrow's free practice will just be about learning and getting used to everything. I have a new bike (Yamaha R6) and new track to learn, along with the older Dunlop spec tyres which I have never used. But I cant wait to get out there! Hopefully I can tag on to a fast rider like my team mate who knows the circuit to help me learn it quicker. We have one free practice in the morning then a qualifier in the afternoon. This is the same on Saturday, then on Sunday we have two 18 lap races! I've also managed to get my old race number which I had when I last worked with Andy, no. 44!

Its 8 hours ahead here and im still so jet lagged, I get tired around midday and keep thinking it would be 4am in England and i'd be tucked up in bed! So I might have to take a power nap between sessions!

I'll update on how the practice and qualifying goes tomorrow!

For more information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

Gino Rea's day by day Diary - day 2

After the spicy food from last night I decided to wake up early and hit the gym. Still well jet lagged, we headed for a big breakfast with the team to discuss plans for the day.

We went to the track to walk around it and discuss lines, gearing, suspension etc. with the team. By this time it was afternoon so we went for food then just done a bit of shopping to get some bargains! Back to the hotel to get showered up and down to the restaurant for some food, a bit of Italian this time, some lovely spaghetti!

Back to the hotel room for a go on the internet, to find out that Facebook, Twitter and Youtube are banned in China! So no updates there then. An early night for me as im pretty jetlagged, plan is to go back to the track tomorrow to sign on and help team set up. Think it will be a long day considering how much I want to go out and ride!

For more information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whayarai.co.uk

Gino Rea to Race in FIM Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship - his diary!

Gino will be sending us his account of his time in Asia - giving us an inside view as to what it's really like to be a racer, what he feels, thinks etc! Enjoy..

Day 1- Tuesday 8th December

I haven't seen much yet but it's been amazing so far! After a long 13 hour flight where me and Andy struggled to sleep we arrived in Hong Kong Tuesday 4pm (8 hours ahead of UK time). The team that I will be riding for- Yamaha Red Rooster Racing met us at the airport and took us to the ferry, which took us across the water to Zhuhai, mainland China. The first thing I noticed was how built up the area is, the buildings are huge and it’s fascinating to see.

We went back to the hotel with the team and got ready to go out for food. We turned up at a seafood restaurant, seafood has never been my thing but this was something special, something you don't get to see in the UK. Before going into the restaurant you walk to the end of the building, where there is an aquarium-like area.

There were loads of fish tanks, with every variety of fish you could imagine. There's a woman who politely asks you which type you want. You pick the fish you like and if you really want, you can watch them kill and cook it. That wasn't the big surprise for me, it was when I saw the other choice of food you can have, ranging from Crocodile, live Tortoise, live crabs, a choice of 6 chicken running about in a small cage, live eels, live frogs. You name it, it was there. I just opted for some rice and chicken! For an extra £1, a group of us (13) had a private room to ourselves to dine in. We finished up the meal and headed back to hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Lots for Gino to experience! more coming soon..