Date: 26 June 2008 Location: Misano Adriatico, San Marino

YAMAHA CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE!
Preview announcement
Troy swaps his R1 for a set of clubs. On the Thursday afternoon, before the start of the Misano race weekend, Troy and fellow Yamaha riders swapped their high-powered bikes for golf clubs and took part in the Yamaha Champions Challenge. The Challenge was between Yamaha riders, a group of racing fans and a mix of motorsport and golf journalists and started off in the unlikely setting of the pit-lane in front of Troy’s WSBK garage at the Misano circuit. Troy and his fellow competitors teed off on a specially laid astroturf green before decamping to the Vallugola Golf Club in the hills overlooking the Adriatic coast and continuing the Challenge. Troy I normally have my set of clubs with me in the motorhome and I try to play a couple of times a month, so I was ready for the Challenge. It seemed a bit strange starting off in the Misano pit-lane, but this was a fun event and not to be taken too seriously, so it didn’t matter how or where we began. Afterwards we all went off to the golf club on the Strada Panoramica above the coast and played a few holes there. I managed a birdie and a couple of pars, so not too bad. The course was a challenge course instead of a full 18-hole one, but it didn’t matter because we were all playing for fun. Nakatomi played, as well as Fabien Foret and David Checa, plus some journos and Yamaha guys - a real mix. It was good to have a stroll in the hills and knock a few balls about - though it was a bit hot at times!