After two years on the road traveling overseas it feels so good to be back in Oz. The saying, ‘There’s no place like home’, rings true when you visit family and old friends and catch up on all the news you’ve missed out on being away, but what you soon realise is that you haven’t really missed out on much at all, and that you’ve experienced so much more by getting away from your comfort zone and embarking on adventure after adventure.

It’s the simple things I missed most about Oz. The laid-back attitude, white sandy beaches with crystal clear salt water and rolling waves, hitting the road north from Sydney at the crack of dawn and finding minimal traffic for 10 hours after leaving the big city, and then driving through the lush green Tweed Valley back to our overgrow 5 acres of land that needed a week of clearing Lantana and weeds just so we could comfortably walk on it again.

My 4-stroke brush cutter is the closest thing to a bike I’ve played with since returning. And hey, don't pay out the sunnies, better than crap in the eyes!

When opening my shed for the first time I came across a 4-foot long snake skin, which instantly put me on edge waiting for a King Brown to strike any second when moving a box or equipment. Adjusting my senses to the environment has taken a few weeks.

Since arriving home mid October I’ve been flatout. Between catching up with friends and family I’ve visited the Melbourne Motorcycle Expo www.australianmotorcycleexpo.com.au, which felt way different to the last one I attended over three years ago. A little more corporate maybe? And many new faces I didn’t recognise. I was hoping to catch up with old industry pals, and although there was a few I did connect with, many were missing from the expo. Things change so quickly in this industry. It was still very cool to check out all the new model motos on display.

I also caught the Parramatta round of Chad Reed’s new SX series Super X www.superx.com.au and it was great to see life injected back into Australian supercross. I’ve watched it fade to a miserable display over the last five years or so and having Chad’s energy now behind it, along with backing from Global Action Sports and their professional organization, has really lifted the sport on many levels, which is great for riders and fans alike.

Chad’s in a class of his own and he’s giving the Aussie rider’s something to aim for, which is great.

The Australasian FMX championships run alongside the Super X series is a welcomed addition, and although the set-up was very basic with one portable ramp, hopefully it will evolve in the coming years as the series grows and attracts more sponsorship. The freestyle riders’ impressed, especially the young Levi Sherwood. I remember him from my days editing Freerider MX, a young kid with huge potential that he has now really harnessed. It was great seeing Kain Saul back on a big bike. I’ll never forget seeing him go down in Adelaide when stalling a Flip mid rotation. It was one of the gnarliest crashes I’ve ever seen. He is ripping on the Yami 250F. You can read an interview I did with Kain for the EXPN moto Brap Haps blogs run by my good mate Ryan Leyba. I’ll be adding a couple of blogs to that site from Down Under from now on. Leyba keeps the blogs fresh, funny, and always interesting, check it out at www.expn.go.com/expn/blog/moto?post=3756583  

Rhys Hillier also impressed me. It was great seeing him compete at the top level in Oz.

Back visiting the Gold Coast I dropped into my old stomping ground being the Freerider MX office. Smakka was on it working on the next issue, emails comin at him hundred miles an hour, phone ringing off-the-hook, crap everywhere, and it really brought back memories of my days leading up to looming deadlines in the same office.

I think he’s doing a great job with the mag, something that’s not easy with so many people in the scene having different opinions of what should and shouldn’t be run. Keep up the good work mate. Keep updated on the mag at www.freeridermx.com.au

Smakka on the job at the FRMX office.

I also dropped in on a Freerider shoot at my old mate Sleepy’s in Northern NSW. Foggo was shooting film, Benny Dillaway and Smakka were there firing away, and I crept in around the edges capturing a few different angles not wanting to crash the party. Kain Saul was there stomping some big combo Flips, plus a crew of riders including Sturto, Thomo, and Pete Anderson, who has progressed with his tricks a long way since I saw him last. Look at for the feature in an upcoming issue. 

Kain Saul Cordova Flip at Sleepy’s joint.

One thing that really blew my mind while hangin’ on the Goldy was visiting the lads at Unit. They are rocking it big-time! I remember when Evo first showed me the Unit logo he was working on when he was designer at Freerider back in 2002. Six years later, from what I understand, Unit is outselling some of the bigger moto brands at stores such as City Beach, and even one or two of the surf brands, which is epic for two Aussie lads who started with a vision and have grown their brand into a monster in only six years. I really hope they continue to prosper as its awesome seeing homegrown brands taking it to the American giants and kicking arse. Check out www.unitriders.com to see what I’m talking about for those of you who don’t know.

Unit taking on the giants.

For me now it’s all about getting through the whole Xmas debacle, and gearing up for good things to come in 2009. I’m hanging to get back on a bike and getting out there in this amazing country and covering stories in all shapes and forms. I’ll let you know how it all unfolds, have a great newyear, cheers Goba.

More pics:

Killer sunset at the Parramatta Super X round.

First corner action.

Dan Reardon looked smooth.

Matt Moss proved the fastest rider on the night in the Lites class.

Kain left and Levi number one and two overall in the 2008 Oz FMX Champs.