Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

"When Marq ztarth thu go in froonth of mi...... I zay, Faaack! I ave thu thry and beath heemma......... I wheel ave an-Aantha four breakfaastha...... zam-de batha, zoon!"

It means something like this, "I will have an Ant for breakfast, someday but, soon!"

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Lolz...sure he meant something like this. BTW..what corner were you at?

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

How did I miss this thread . [MENTION=28698]Makky[/MENTION] great writeup and photos buddy. Thanks a ton for sharing

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Kahaani abhi bhi bhaakhi hai, dost. Will try to finish Thursday's log before Silverstone GP.

Thanks, mate!

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Alex Briggs himself is a part of the MotoGP circus and yet, he was excited and curious by Honda's masterpiece seamless shift gearbox. After Bradl's RC213Vs were shut off, I caught up with him and had a quick chat. He was a motocross rider himself and he could wrench a bit too. Fixing things here and there coupled with the need to build a career, he ventured into being a mechanic full time and worked for Australian nationals. Some time later, he decided to relocate to Europe for a better cause. Thanks to his reputation and contacts, Jeremy offerred him a job. It was a big change from motocross to grand prix racing. That was 21 seasons ago and he hasn't looked back ever since. We do know what issues were at Ducati for the 46 crew but, to hear something from the horse's mouth itself is a tad satisfying. Basically, the crew receives various components for the bike. They are NEVER involved in designing or engineering a component. That's solely the job of the factory and their team. So, 46's feedback and requests for parts that 'd have worked better for Rossi were not met. And hence, the dream Italian affair went down the drain. It also tells that Rossi wants his crew to 'fix' the bike for him rather that canning anything is provided to him. He needs a proper recipe/cuisine.

Alex was nice to enough to ask about me and my profession/career. He advised me, "Do whatever you want. Make more money than me!"

That was............!



By then, there was an uproar! Rossi after his discussion with data technician Matteo Flamigni walks out to greet his fans and followers. I was more interested to record the madness than getting photographed myself with him. But, as fate 'd have it, I found myself very close when he was walking past, scribbling and posing. Why lose a chance, after all he's my favourite?!

As you had seen in my earlier post, he says something to me. Yes, he really did. But, I was too mental to hear his words. But, from what I can recall, he asked something about my camera. Well, I had made a mistake of keeping it in video mode. I realized that something was wrong, quickly changed it to camera mode, all the while NOT LETTING Rossi GO!
Trust me. He didn't make a fuss about it! And this is one of the many things I saw in him that makes me think that he is a very good human being. I don't know what more to say. As I write, I am a bit emotional. Touched.




Then, on our way back, we saw Karel Abraham being interviewed by motogp media. Honda production racer and his injury. That's the gist.



With the big Czech boy. Michael Morel, motogp media's chief is in the background.

Does this need any introduction?





BMW M6

Moments later, there was a Thursday pre-race press conference.



Lin Jarvis

We got to see Nicky Hayden, Lorenzo, MM and Rossi.

Out of nowhere, a short girl was slipping into the crowd. Stopped her and got a bit of information from presser that Yamaha wasn't using seamless shift gearbox and other bits and bobs. That's Azi Farni, BBC's MotoGP reporter.

We caught the factory Yamaha team’s photoshoot from the grandstand before exiting the circuit at 1815hrs.



If you had laughed looking at Rossi's butt from his FB/twitter account, this tells the story.

.................I was screaming on top of my voice reflecting on how the day went about! And yet, no one 'd hear it, not even myself. Not far away, an ART Aprilia was growling after a long sleep.

Top day, certainly of the best in my life!

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

More photos:

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Nice videos, photos and write up... pictured everything what is happening at the back ground of MotoGp... It is like going and coming out of a MotoGp weekend, love to see the photo with Valentino you are lucky enough to show your kids and explain about this legend

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Loved the pics, the place is so beautiful even without the bikes racing around.
As usual, Ducati have nothing of interest

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Most of us have seen only the circuit and the riders soaring ahead in their rides! and that too, mostly in TVs. This thread has given a totally different experience, an amazing one that is.

Thank you so much [MENTION=28698]Makky[/MENTION] for sharing this with us.


--
Cheers,
KMK.

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Definitely, it 'd remain locked up inside me until I grow old and lose my memory!

Thanks everyone!

The next race is on 15th. I 'll try to finish my log within a week's time. Got some work to do tonight! [MENTION=11424]R-series[/MENTION]: Stay awake!

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Oh my Gosh!!!! I ended to see this thread today, was not even expecting this much happiness by seeing the subject line from outside.....

This thread is really heaven for me ever on Xbhp, [MENTION=28698]Makky[/MENTION] - Many, many congrats bro, Man you have been to heaven brother, I cant express my happiness in words for you, after seeing the amazing pictures and those lovely videos, Lucky you, where we even missed the WSBK.....

Hooked to thread permanently and this thread is not gonna old never and ever......

Could you please explain us how did you managed to go there, at least once in my I wanted to attend a GP, please tell us all the expenses and all the preparations....
But how did you get a ticket to be there at pits and stand, I don't think you can go there on normal race tickets.....Once again congrats....

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Oops, just saw this update today in the afternoon here. I'm with you [MENTION=28698]Makky[/MENTION]: I'm all pumped up, bring it on.

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

double awesome .. thanks you for sharing it man

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

I didn't attend the free practice and qually sessions on Friday and Saturday since I had some work at the lab.

Sunday Race Day:

The bus to Brno from Prague was at 0330hrs and when I was about to board, a girl runs in - she's wearing a 46 cap and a 58 hooded fleece! That was quite exciting, mainly because no one seemed to accompany her. Perfect! Once we disembarked at Brno, I spoke to her. Unfortunately, her English is as good as my Czech. But, somehow, we pull it through and have a conversation. What she told me shook me up. That was her 9th GP! And she has always been on her own. I was at loss of words! Literally.

Events like these should be watched and enjoyed with people who share the same frequency as you. And if, you have a girl next to you, what more can you ask for! Of course, it gets more cracking with boys. But, for a change, this is just fantastic. Girls who like motorsports are a rare breed.

We reached the circuit well in advance. My ticket was for General Admission which had access to A, B, C, D, E, F and G sectors. And the same with her too. I had planned to watch the GP at sector C. It's elevated and hence gives a wonderful coverage. That's the best part of the circuit. One gets a view of downhill - what they call "into the forest" before the riders go for Corners 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Not surprisingly, this is the most preferred sector among the spectators and is called "The Boiler" by Karel Abraham fans' club - they occupy the G sector.

This map is from motorcycleusa.com -






After a round walk through the wooded area which took about 30 min, we were at the circuit entrance. On the way, we discussed about (My new MotoGP friend, Barbora) her previous visits, the 2013 season, Rossi (Obviously!) and #58 (RIP). The bar codes on the tickets and our bags were checked and we were let in. Race day! Luckily, we were earlier than the mad rush hour just before the kick off. She suggested a place which is in the center of sector C right in front of the wide screen - giving us the same as the MotoGP telly broadcast. The crowd was pouring in. Moments later, we saw members from the Official Fan Club Valentino Rossi Tavullia cordoning off a patch of land in yellow and black tape and we were right on it. Only yellow was allowed there.

At 0900hrs, the Sunday morning on-track ritual began. I had seen those machines 2 days ago. But, this was different. They are more gorgeous beyond words when in motion. After all, they are all built with only one purpose - to be raced round a track and not to be housed in a garage. One can spend hours together watching them fly past and never get bored. When 20-30 bikes follow one after another, it's a never ending symphony and and nothing comes close to this. By the way, I never wore a pair of ear-plugs. Never wanted to! Finally, my chase to catch the action in person is over! It took 22 years. Streak of ants and knee-downs! All here, right before me!

I have to remind you all again that I just have a simple point and shoot camera. I don't have a DSLR and am very happy for that!

The first ones to come out were the Moto2 boys:












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I 'd pour out this much only because of that push you gave me during those initial posts. But for that, it 'd have been different. Thanks, mate!

Thanks!

Thank you very much. Well, my posts are not in a proper order. The GP log, photos and videos are all mixed up and hence, you might have missed it. I live in Prague and Brno circuit is 3hrs from here.

Re: 22 years later and 7000kms away..... My first Grand Prix experience

Nice. Great pics. As I said earlier, the place is really beautiful. You're most welcome for such a push. In fact I had my own interest in pushing you .

A single-Czech-female-MotoGP fan is more than you would have even dreamt when you bought the tickets. You should be paying the authorities extra bucks for that

And nice write up, I could sense it was coming straight from the heart. Keep them coming, I'm awake and waiting for the rest of the journey along with the Big Boy pics.