Jerez 2006-But not the race!

Oh boy what a weekend!

Started off badly though as we had to set off through the mountains on wet roads! Michelin powers behaved extremely well though. However not a happy bunny due to the amount of sh*t sprayed up on to the bike for the first 1 1/2 hours of the ride!

Roads gradually drying and so some brisk riding enjoyed which unfortunately saw us hit a depression in the road at err hum a touch more than the speeed limit I didn't realise until we arrived at the circuit,that the suspension had momentarily bottomed out and caused the number plate to make contact with the rear tyre,bending the plate horribly backwards,(stopped plod catching my number though! )

Friday practise and Saturday qualifying were ace! Particularly in the Moto GP class. It was weird to see Hayden and Rossi under perform so much! Ducati were running hot,but was this false hope? Would it all end in tears come race time?

Right across in front of us saw a bizare set of circumstances unfold on Saturday. Hoffman's Ducati coughed it's guts 80 metres before the Angel Nieto curve which forced him to career straight on in to the kitty litter. Then in his wake several riders hit an oil slick that had been spat out by Hoffman's stricken Duke. it was like some kind of slap stick routine! Rossi went down,Nakano and a couple of others! Crazy stuff. The session was immediately stopped as the marshall's sorted the problem.

Immediately in front of us was the spot where the riders practise their starts,also many of them give a good wave to the crowd at this point or show off their party tricks. Let me tell you John Hopkins is the Daddy when it comes to stand up wheelie on one leg,full length of the straight! Awesome!

Their was an incredible piece of pantomine/drama carried out right in front of us....the main protagonists? Sete and Valentino!

Riders were stopping at the end of the qaualifying session to practise their starts. They usually stop and wait in line. A few riders had done their starts and next to stop was Sete....now Spain is as critical of Sete as anyone else but they appreciate the efforts he has been making on the Ducati.

Sete stopped and waved to us, to big cheers. He pointed to the crowd and gave applause back....more cheers. He then bent to kiss the tank of his Ducati.....greater cheers. He pointed to the Ducati logo and gestured his approval of the make.....the crowd volume went even higher!

At this point who should pull up behind him? You guessed it...Valentino! Now I would say that 6 out 10 fans were wearing some colours related to Valentino but that did not stop the fun! Sete looked over his shoulder to see who had stopped, noting it was Rossi he folded his arms in a sign of..."Hey this is my crowd,I am going nowhere...if you want to make your practise start go right ahead!" To this the crowd went ballistic. Rossi to his credit waited to see if Sete was going to move off,but then gave up and got on with his start and away!

Once Rossi had left,Sete again milked the crowd and they were ecstatic. It was clear he was saying to Rossi..."Don't think you are going to boss me around!" It might be all bull,but you had to witness it and be in that crowd! It was fantastic!

I can't believe the position we had this time compared with last year,much better view,lots of action in front of us, saw plenty of spills at the Criville curve and the oil spill related one at Nieto curve. All that and the tickets were cheaper!

I hope to book the exact same spot for next season. If you ever get the chance....go to Jerez for the Moto Gp. Great racing and superb atmosphere!

i did think about you when i was watching it on eurosport today! lucky bu@@er!

Nice one Peter.

And lovely sherry too

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

However not a happy bunny due to the amount of sh*t sprayed up on to the bike for the first 1 1/2 hours of the ride!

Welcome to the real world Peter .

...bending the plate horribly backwards,(stopped plod catching my number though! )

An unecessary accessory, think no more about it .

Friday practise and Saturday qualifying were ace! Particularly in the Moto GP class. It was weird to see Hayden and Rossi under perform so much!

But not in the race where I think they both did well.

Glad you had a great time.


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Originally Posted by kwak zzr

i did think about you when i was watching it on eurosport today! lucky bu@@er!

BAST**D

A reminder of how talented these guys are... well one of them at least :P

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/2...C58B94D877.htm

Amazes me every time I see that.