I try to treat the British Grand Prix at Silverstone like any other race, but it’s very hard.

There is so much personal pride that goes into your home race, especially as the track is only 30 minutes from home in Oxford.

Silverstone tell me ticket sales are very good – and they should be.

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo arrive equal on points fighting for the title, Marc Marquez is on the comeback trail and Ducati are in the mix.

It’s no longer a race where you know what is going to happen.

I’m the top satellite rider and Danny Kent has a great chance of winning the Moto3 World Championship – it could not be a lot better.

Silverstone is the deadline to sort out my MotoGP future.

Perhaps I was a little too vocal at the Indianapolis press conference about the lack of progress, but I thought I needed my voice heard and certain things needed to be addressed.

I just wanted people to start paying attention because I’m the leading satellite rider and have beaten my team-mate Pol Espargaro, who signed a new contract in Indianapolis, in nine out of 11 races this year.

I felt it was not a fair situation and I think that’s why there has been a delay on a new contract, because I want to be on a level playing field with my team-mate – both on equipment and financially.

We both need to be starting on the same level, because I believe I’ve earned the right to be in that situation.

I love going head-to-head with Pol and I want to do that in 2016 and move onto bigger and better things.

I t was not something I wanted to do, but back anybody into a corner when they feel they are not being heard or listened to and they are going to come out swinging.

I thought I was more diplomatic than I could have been, but I owe enormous respect to both the Monster Tech 3 team and Yamaha.

I’m in debt to them for the opportunity they have given me for the last three years, but I’ve stepped up a level in my performance.

I’m confident all the issues are being sorted and all will be revealed next week.

My two weeks in Japan was an amazing experience and felt like a bit of a holiday, despite the Suzuka Eight hour race.

I travelled round and had a chance to really understand the culture and the people that I work with.

I loved the Endurance racing experience, it’s my cup of tea having to put in consistent fast times lap after lap.

The heat and the humidity made it hard work, but it was the first time I’d stood on the top step of the podium since 2010.

It was a great feeling drinking the champagne celebrating with Yamaha and especially with our Japanese rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga who thanked us for making his dream come true.

The last half an hour was my stint and it was a tough situation, because I didn’t know exactly where the opposition were.

I don’t even remember the last couple of laps, but just know I was lapping two seconds faster than anybody.

It was dark and I could not see ten metres in front of me.

Down the straight was OK but spotting apexes was a nightmare and I was riding by feel, which was a bit nerve-racking.

I ’m so happy I’ve kept the run of MotoGP form from the first half of the season in Indianapolis and Brno, because you are worried that it will not continue after the summer break.

I think the Suzuka experience did me good and what has really pleased me is I improved my qualifying, battling for a front row start at both.

In Indy I fought with the factory Ducati of Andrea Iannone for fifth and in Brno consolidated my position as the top satellite rider.

Long may it continue and Silverstone promises to be a great weekend – both on and off the track.