It's a good thing I’ve never really enjoyed the summer break because all holidays have been cancelled this year, but for a great reason.

It’s a real honour that the Yamaha factory team considered me to ride for them in the prestigious Suzuka eight-hour race in Japan, but I’m there, together with my teammate Pol Espargaro in a race that means so much for the Japanese factories.

It’s a tremendous challenge and something I’ve wanted to do for a while because I’ve heard so much about the Suzuka circuit and it will great to ride the new Yamaha YZF R1 which my friends in America tell me is a great bike.

Also, I love a physical challenge – which it will be with the length of the race in humidity.

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A 24-hour race has never been that appealing, but eight hours is more my cup of tea.

I ’m not good at summer breaks and I’m much happier keeping myself busy and I’m certainly doing just that.

Straight after the Dutch TT in Assen, I travel to Japan for a test at Suzuka and then fly back for the German Grand Prix.

Immediately after that, I am straight back on the plane for another two-day Suzuka test.

After a short break, which will involve plenty of press and PR, I will fly off to Indianapolis to continue the MotoGP series.

I can’t think of a better way of spending my summer holidays.

At the last three grands prix, I’ve never witnessed such big, passionate and loud crowds.

The support for MotoGP through some incredible television and social media figures is there for all to see, but the most important aspect is at the track itself.

In Le Mans we are not used to the best weather, but the fans turned out in their tens of thousands – even on a Friday to watch practice.

The real cool thing at Mugello was that if you bought a ticket for Sunday, you enter the circuit at 10pm on Saturday night to party with your friends ready for race day.

MotoGP is all about fun and enjoying motor cycle racing for what it is and we should never forget that.

Le Mans was a great race for me and the Monster Tech 3 team at their home grand prix.

It was made even better by topping the practice charts for the very first time on my nan and grandad’s 50th wedding anniversary which was a great present for them.

We were very happy with sixth place, but I honestly thought at one point I was going to finish fourth and had lined up Andrea Iannone at the Dunlop Esses when Marc Marquez come up the inside from nowhere to spoil the party.

That’s race-craft and something I’ve got to work on.

Just following those two in the fight of the season made me realise they are more versatile on the bike than me and I believe they swapped places 17 times in around five laps. Another great learning experience.

My starts seem to be working at the moment and in Mugello it was amazing.

I’d had a little hiccup in qualifying and was 11th on the grid.

But I raced down the outside on the run into the first corner and came out in fourth spot which gave me a massive boost.

In the race, I knew when Valentino Rossi was coming because all I could see on the hillsides was a sea of yellow with smoke flares going off in the gravel.

Our race trucks were parked next to each other in the paddock and the whole time the crowd were singing and chanting his name.

Even though it was not my name it was a real inspiration to hear such support.

I have got a rare weekend at home coming up and then the real travelling starts after the Barcelona race.

It looks like there’s no need to pack the flip flops and swimming trunks – it’s the helmet and leathers that will be filling the suitcase.