Friday, 02 July 2010 19:19 by Alice Margaria

A test at Valencia, in March, on the FB1 powered by Oral Engeneering: that is the sum total of Garry McCoy's 2010 season so far.  Just one test, before he and the team eventually decided to part ways.  McCoy issued a press release announcing the decision on the very same day that Valentino Rossi injured his leg at Mugello.

“Maybe that is the reason why everyone was thinking I could do some races on Valentino's bike - Garry told us in the Yamaha hospitality area - the fans put two and two together, and they saw a connection."

He looks happy, but you can tell that he is dying to be back racing.

“I want to ride a bike – he went on – simple, no? I am here at the Catalan GP to speak with a few people and most importantly to meet Masao Furusawa. When I came into MotoGP he had just left."

Jorge Lorenzo has just finished the press conference and he stops by to say hello.  He only has time for a brief chat with Gary, but before leaving he tells us: ”What Garry McCoy did in his career was incredible.”

And what did they say to one another?

“Honestly I wanted to ask him how his teammate was doing.  Not Valentino Rossi, but rather Wataru Yoshikawa; everyone is asking me if I will get a race on the M1, and it is starting to hurt.  I would have loved to.  And he is running with the number 8, which was the number I had when I raced in MotoGP for Kawasaki."

Garry's nickname, of course, is the King of Slide.  But would he be able to live up to his title on the Bridgestones?

“It must be hard on the riders with the temperature issue always hanging over their heads.  I'm not familiar with the Bridgestones, but I think they have made such a good tire that you really have to go fast just to heat them up.  And then it only takes a few seconds for them to cool off.  They need to find a solution to the problem, but I don't know what it would be."

Ok, he wants to meet Furusawa, and his Spanish wife Gemma has a house near the track... but Garry, why are you really here?

“We are working on a MotoGP project – his manager, Stéphanie Steinbrecht Aleix, admits – but we still can't talk about it.  We will be able to say more in 15 days.  I do want to say something about an article that was recently written by Gianfranco Terzoli.  It says that FB Corse might still have a future, and that Garry could return to the team.  None of it is true.  As far as we are concerned FB doesn't exist and Garry has other plans.  The rumor needs to stop here."

As you wish!