Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Bike prep'd and ready to go

That's everything done and loaded. All that's left is to fuel up and get some air in the tyres. Playing badminton tonight so hope to grab a few hours sleep maybe before the early start.

Thursday, May 14, 2009
We're Off!

Full tanks of gas, half pack of pro-plus and wearing sun visors .... Yeeeehaaaaa!

First fuel stop

South Mimms on the M25, 130miles from our starting point, other than a bit of drizzle been a good trip so far

Arrived at Dover

We have managed to escape the threatened bad weather- it is 16deg C and for the moment cloudy but bright. Because we have made good time we have about 45 mins before boarding. The batteries in the Midland BT2 intercoms went flat at the Dartford Tunnel, so for the last 70 miles we have had to use sign posts instead of sat nav instructions. Maybe shouldn't have used the mp3's so much. Time for a kit kat and a red bull.

Fingertip control, Phone, MP3, FM radio BT Headset

Arriving at Calais

Nice calm crossing, need fuel within 50miles

Le Mans Paddock Girls Pictures,

Hold up in Alencon

Having fuelled up at Calais, the last 150 miles have been eventful. Oli's bike developed a misfire at 6.5k revs, which kept him below 75mph. He thinks it was dirty fuel, little did he know it was his step dad's way of slowing him down.
We have been caught in a few showers but now we are stopped just north of Alencon, the weather has caught up. We are hold up with a dozen other bikers, getting a well earned coffee and sandwich, waiting for the rain to ease.

Arrived at the camp site

Arrived at the camp, pitched the tents, now thinking about food.

Friday, May 15, 2009
Practice day

Not a bad night sleep, our tent pitches are about 20ft from the fishing lake. The wildlife was quite vocal not even the overnight rain subdued their activity. Rolled out of the tent about 8.00am, followed by a good old fashioned English breakfast, supplied by our hosts, and we are off to the track. We have just parked the bikes up in the secure biking area. Just as well we brought our V5's with us - apparently we won't be able to take the bikes out without them - though in previous years we always managed to talk our way round. The 125's are just being warmed up in the pits and the sun is starting to make an appearance.

Le Mans Centre Ville

Practice day is over, with mixed results. The 125's and 250's completed their hour, but the 800's had their time cut short through rain.
We are now in Le Mans town centre and the sun has returned, time for coffee and to people watch.

Road block

After dinner tonight we thought we'd go look for a supermarket. Being a Friday evening in France everything was shut. However the Police were out in force with a road block. This is the second year running I've been stopped in this way. Fortunately we both had our licences, V5 registrations and insurance docs.
We commented with our hosts who explained the penalty for not carrying them in/on the vehicle is a 90 Euro spot fine, or impounding of vehicle.
Other riders in earshot went very white, don't think they will be venturing out in the evening.
I meant to mention yesterday, for those interested using all the toll roads from Calais to Le Mans, the total cost of the toll roads was about 18 Euros per bike

Qualifying

After our incident with the local law enforcement, we decided it is obviously unwise to go out on the bikes in the evenings, unless you really have to, so we retired to the bar.
Today is practice day, it is a little brighter and, as yet, fairly dry. The circuit is a lot busier as are the car parks and surrounding roads.
"Go JT, come on boy!"

Spoke too soon!

It has just started tippin' it down. Hmmmmm....coffee time :-)

MotoGP 125 Qualifying

The track has dried again in time for 125 Qualifying.
1. Marquez
2. Reading
3. Terol
4. Aegerter
5. Olive
6. Smith
7. Simon
8. Bradl

MotoGP Qualifying

Not just dry but now sunny. Last minute front grid positions for Pedrosa and Lorenzo.
1. Pedrosa
2. Lorenzo
3. Stoner
4. Rossi
5. Dovizioso
6. Edwards
7. Vermeulen
8. Capirossi
9. Melandri
With Toseland in 12th.

MotoGP 250 Qualifying

Results , handbags at dawn.
1. Bautista
2. Simoncelli
3. Aoyama
4. Lulhi
5. Megilo
6. Debon
7. De Rosa
8. Pesek

Ok, where are the bikes?

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Race DAY

Good evening at the camp, sitting out on the terrace, overlooking the lake, the smell of the BBQ in the air. Sounds idyllic? Not quite this is north west France in May, 10 - 11deg C and showers.
Anyway IT'S RACE DAY! Having endured the weather getting down here, camped in a tent, something I don't generally have a taste for, it's here. Today is the big one.
I'd like to see Rossi win today - if he does he will be on for his 100th top spot in Mugello in a couple of weeks, his home track.
My other wish is that James Toseland finishes in the top 6, he needs it!
Oh, and a podium for young Bradley Smith or Scott Reading would be nice to see as well.

MotoGP 125cc Results

1. Simon
2. Folger
3. Gadea
With Bradley Smith in 4th and, after a tumble, Scott Reading 18th

MotoGP 250cc Results

1. Simoncelli
2. Faubel
3. Locaielli

Le Man's MotoGP

It has been overcast with showers all morning, but now for the main event it is drying -though there is still a risk of rain before the end. It has just been declared a wet race - so we'll have to see.

Rossi Off

2nd place Rossi has just pitted onto his second bike, for dry's, unfortunately he had an off - his 100th at Mugello are fading

Lorenzo wins at Le Mans

Lorenzo rode the wheels off his Yamaha, putting himself in the lead and with Rossi out the resulting race was fairly dull. Melandri put in a stunning performance but couldn't get anywhere near Lorenzo.
1. Lorenzo
2. Melandri
3. Dovizioso
4. Pedrosa
With James Toseland finishing a respectable 9th. Poor old Rossi was out of the points having had his spill early on.

The ride back to camp

On a piece of the Le Mans 24hr circuit

Monday, May 18, 2009
Packed up..

All sorted, packed and ready to go.

Web Exclusive Motorcycle Sat Nav

Earlier Ferry.

The ride back has been great. Although the first section to Alencon was sunny spells, by the time we got to Rouen we we seeing a little rain, which cleared quickly to beautiful sunshine all the way to Calais. So much so we have now got a tan on our faces, visor shaped.
We used all the toll roads on the route, again the total toll charges came to no more than 20 Euros each.
The last toll station before Calais was crawling with French Police. They'd pulled over several trucks, a few bikes and one Ferrari. We got through without incident, can't have been going fast enough.
We arrived early for our boat, paid an additional £11.00 which means we might stand a chance of getting back before the small hours of tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Home, safe and sound.

Oli's bike started to misfire at 6-7k revs again, just like it did last time we got off the ferry. Since he is running on RON 98 fuel and we have done around 80 miles without problem, so it isn't dirty fuel or the octane rating, I'm beginning to suspect the problems on his Kawasaki ZR600 Ninja are more associated with being on the ferry. Although I can't think what. It comes to something when my old British Triumph Daytona turns out to be more reliable than his Japanese pocket rocket.

We finally got home about midnight, after unpacking the bike and getting it garaged again it was closer to 1am. I was hoping all the Red Bull, coffee and Pro Plus starts to wear off soon.

The trip back from our camp site (Le Bounty) just south of Mulsanne only took a total of 14 hours to complete the 534 miles door to door.

It is hoped the blog will be picked up by John Bennet - this time traveling to the MotoGP in Mugello in a little over a weeks time.

Planning your own trip?
share it with us - or see you there info@gpbiketours.com

European MotoGP Bike tours Jerez MotoGP, Le Mans MotoGP, Mugello MotoGP,
Catalunya MotoGP, Assen MotoGP, Sachsenring MotoGP,
Donington MotoGP, Misano MotoGP, Estoril MotoGP, Valencia MotoGP.