2010 Diary
European MotoGP
Bike Race Meetings
European MotoGP
Bike Race Meetings
2
May 10 Jerez Spain
- MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain
23 May 10 Le Mans
- MotoGP Grand Prix of France
6 Jun 10 Mugello
- MotoGP Grand Prix of Italy
20 Jun 10 Silverstone
- MotoGP British Grand Prix
26 Jun 10Assen
- MotoGP Assen Dutch Grand Prix
4 Jul 10 Catalunya
- MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalunya
18 July 10 Sachsenring
- MotoGP German Grand Prix
5 Sept 10 Misano
- MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino
31 Oct 10 Estoril
- MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal
7 Nov 10 Valencia
- MotoGP Grand Prix of Valencia
Le Mans MotoGP - 2010
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The Le Mans Photos
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 4:09 PM
One Week To Le Mans Trip
The French have a lot of rules they like drivers to adhere to and having been stopped every year at some point it's worth going over again.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
posted
by Matt Paines at 8:30 PM
Thought I'd try the
luggage out on the bike before next weeks #motogp Le Mans trip www.gpbikeblog.com
Last night was -1C , if it stays this cold next week, by the time we get to South Mimms for the first fuel stop, we'll be frozen to the bikes. www.gpbikeblog.com @mpaines
Sent from my iPhone
Monday,
May 17, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 11:06 AM
Journey to the races, plans for the Le Mans #MotoGP
In a little over two days time our 2010 Le Mans MotoGP mini adventure starts. We have to cover 530 miles in a single days ride. The maps are sorted, sat-navs programmed and the credit cards, passports, rider & vehicle docs and cash are safely in the tank bags. The mobile phones are euro enabled and configured to the bluetooth bike comms, and everything has been charged up.
There are two of us
making the trip, on two bikes. A Kawasaki ZZR 1100 and a Honda CBR 1100XX Super
Blackbird.
The intention is to meet up around 1.00am locally. Then ride
the 4 hours to Dover via the M6, M1 down to the M25, we've scheduled a half hour
for a fuel stop and possibly a thaw out/dry out at South Mimms. Then it's off
again down the M2 to Dover, for a 6.40am Sea France ferry crossing.
Once the bikes are loaded and secure on the vehicle deck, it'll be a dash upstairs
to grab some very welcome breakfast, a coffee and most likely swap stories with
all the other bikers that will no doubt be heading down for the racing. Although
the ferry is approx 3 hrs, we'll be arriving in Calais around 9.00am CET.
By the time we've unloaded and got on the road it'll probably be approaching
9.30am. We'll be needing another fuel stop within about 50 miles.
We'll be using the A16 to Abbeville, then the A28 to Rouen, followed by the N338, N138 and A28 to Alencon. The final leg will be on the A28 to Le Mans.
We are hoping to arrive around 5.00pm, to get the tents pitched. The site we are using is Le Bounty just south of Mulsanne. The site is run by a couple of Brits and for most of the year as a fishing centre, given it has two large lakes full of huge fish. Twice a year for the Le Mans MotoGP and the Le Mans 24 they open it up to race fans.
Once settled we'll probably head off into Le Mans town centre for dinner, there's an excellent restaurant, just off the main square at the foot of the Cathedral that does a wicked steak, hmmmm salivating just thinking about it. Anyway we'll be blogging the trip and the racing here and tweeting on @mpaines follow the fun.
posted by Matt Paines at 12:30 PM
Forecast for the coming week in Le Mans #motogp, might not
need waterproofs??!! www.gpbikeblog.com
Thought I'd
check what we might expect for the trip to the #motogp, looking really good, even
into the weekend and beyond. Fingers crossed for some great dry racing!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
posted
by Matt Paines at 7:43 AM
Le Mans MotoGP weather
forecast, just gets better
Yahoo Weather
This weekends racing in Le Mans isn't just looking dry, it's looking
stunning. Our overnight ride through the UK, from the Midlands to Dover, is likely
to be cold, but as the sun comes up I suspect we'll be discarding the thermals
quickly.
Posted by Matt Paines at 9:12 PM
Sleep...Yeh right!
Best laid plans.... as usual been far too busy to
get enough sleep in readiness for a 1am start, and 530mile bike ride. So resorting
to plan 2, RedBull, ProPus and Coffee! Yep I'll be so hyper I'll be awake for
the whole of the weekend.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 12:55 AM
Here
we go! #motogp
posted
by Matt Paines at 3:34 AM
First fuel stop, running
a bit late www.gpbikeblog.com
The first 20 miles took us 40 mins, since the M6 was closed and we ended up going the scenic route through Wolverhampton.
Temp has dropped from 17deg C to 8deg C, TGF the thermals. Sent from my iPhone
posted
by Matt Paines at 5:50 AM
Arrived at Dover Docks,
made up the time we lost wandering in Wolverhampton
posted
by Matt Paines at 6:52 AM
Safely aboard the ferry,
tucking into b'fast.
Bikes are stowed on the car deck and we headed up to the rear cafe for coffee and something to eat.We're just leaving port, the sea is nice and calm. The tannoy is just announcing the procedure for abandoning ship, cheery thought! The lack of sleep is catching up a little, more coffee, proplus and redbull needed.
Sent from my iPhone
posted
by Matt Paines at 8:06 AM
Arriving in Calais
Making good progress, grabbing some lunch near Alencon
Once off the ferry, after a small unplanned detour, the bikes were getting low on fuel, forcing a brief stop on the way to Abbeville. We are now at our second fuel stop in France, not far from Alencon.
Lunch, baggette and coffee, sat on a picnic table in a motorway services.
Sent from my iPhone
posted by Matt Paines
at 5:45 PM
Arrived at Le Bounty, how tranquil,
now to putting up the tent. Who's got the mallet?.....oooops!
Friday,
May 21, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 9:01
AM
It's MotoGP Practice day!
The Le Mans MotoGP track is 4,180 m, with the longest straight being 450 m
With our tickets we have a Pit Walk in with the price. In previous years these have been disappointing, as it is usually done after all the sessions have finished. There are no riders about and even most of the garages have been closed. This time they have moved it up to 9.30 am today, should be better.
Posted by Matt Paines at 9:33 AM
Loris Capirossi signing for fans at the MotoGP
posted
by Matt Paines at 11:24 AM
Beautiful day
at the Le Mans #motogp, it's hot, damn hot!
posted
by Matt Paines at 11:47 AM
Won't be this
quiet on Sunday #motogp
posted
by Matt Paines at 12:56 PM
This mornings
pit walk at Le Mans #motogp
With yesterdays 500+ mile bike ride, combined with having missed a nights sleep we were, to say the least, shattered.
With
all the measures we were taking to stay awake throughout the day we were still
feeling reasonable by 6pm. Believe me, the last 50 miles were the hardest to keep
from turning into a nodding dog.
Once we pitched the tents we headed
for the club house. After the first decent meal of the day and a pint of London
Pride we were like a pair of zombies. We both staggered back to our tents, Ian,
my wingman on this trip, crashed there and then fully clothed. I managed to get
to the washrooms and, to be honest, that's all I remember. I was asleep as soon
as my head touched the pillow although I did wake up around midnight, back lash
on all that proplus I suspect.
This morning was busy, we got to the track just as the pit walk started. I have to say it was an improvement on last years, given there were some of the riders around and most of the garages were open
Sent from my iPhone
posted
by Matt Paines at 1:01 PM
Rossi's #motogp fan
club has it's own stand!!!
posted
by Matt Paines at 2:12 PM
25dec C and
21mph crosswind #motogp
posted
by Matt Paines at 3:30 PM
Rolfo and Pesek sharing
the same piece of track, they did know this was practice not race day
posted
by Matt Paines at 3:35 PM
Ducati love
in #motogp
posted
by Matt Paines at 4:06 PM
See you tomorrow
Le Mans #motogp
posted
by Matt Paines at 5:10 PM
After a hard
day at the races, time to chill in a Le Mans cafe and people watch
posted
by Matt Paines at 10:36 PM
After the track
we headed into Le Mans before getting back to the club house
We finally got back to camp at 7.00pm, where our
hosts at Le Bounty had laid on a dinner of spaghetti bolognaise.
We had
a drink or two and a chat with the now increasing number of bike fans at the site.
By around 9.00pm we headed back to the tents to sit adjacent to the lake, have
a chat and take in the overall ambiance.
Our tents are on the edge of
the lake, the toads are noisy, the bats
are flying around as are the dragon
flies.
Can't help thinking this place is just an awesome place to stay,
beets the chaos at the trackside camping.
Sent
from my iPhone
Saturday,
May 22, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 9:08 AM
Final practice and grid position deciders
posted by Matt Paines at 10:27 AM
Another good day for racing #motogp www.gpbikeblog.com
I've got some of my best #motogp pics ever, but since the tech has failed and can't get them to phone, you'll have to wait :-))
Sent from my iPhone
posted
by Matt Paines at 12:51 PM
The UK 125 riders
have done well
#125cc QP is over - Smith 5th Webb 8th Provisional Row 1 is TER - ESP - COR - MAR Sent from my iPhone
posted by Matt
Paines at 2:27 PM
OMG qualifying was awesome,
pole swapping by the minute
#motogp QP Final Result: ROS - LOR - PED - STO - HAY - RdP - DOV - EDW - CAP - ESP - MEL bring on race day, think it's going to be a classic
Sent from my iPhone
posted by Matt Paines at 3:42
PM
Honey I've lost the bike!
Sunday,
May 23, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 6:00
AM
Sun rising over Le Bounty lakes
Camera is not doing this scene justice. Yet another beautiful day for racing forecasted. Very reluctantly, we eventually gave up on the "meet the riders", couldn't find any information on it.
BBQ
last night, afterwards we spent most of the evening with the various other race
goers on the site, few drinks and a good laugh.
Very disappointed in
O2 roaming. It packed up yesterday afternoon, even a twenty minute international
conversation with customer services couldn't fix the problem. So entries to the
blog and Twitter might be limited unless there is a wifi I can crash at the track.
Sent from my iPhone
posted
by Matt Paines at 6:27 AM
Time for a Le
Bounty breakfast
posted by Matt Paines at 7:10 AM
The gods are smiling on me for the #motogp, Premium Paddock pass, www.gpbikeblog.com
What a stroke of luck, one of the guys on the camp can't make it to the track today, bad for him, absolutely fantastic for me!
Sent from my iPhone
posted
by Matt Paines at 9:09 AM
Race Day!
Can't wait for it to get started, we are sat overlooking the Dunlop S chicane at the end of the pit straight.
Moto2, it was bad enough in the days of the 250's,
but now they are all on 600's it's going to be chaos as the guys all try to make
that first right then left and up to the bridge.
Posted by Matt Paines at 9:12 AM
Police
road block on the way to the track
I was hoping not to say it this year, but for the third year running we rode straight into a police road block.
We were riding behind a group of about 8 French sports bikes. We were heading towards Arnarge, there was a group of 5 police offices that waved the lead bike down. They breath tested him and started down the line. Not that we had anything to worry about, but as it happened after sitting behind all this for a couple of minutes, they waved us through.
We got near to the track, there were bikes and cars everywhere, coming from a dozen directions. Finally we got to the car park, wouldn't you know it I was behind a French girl on a ER6. This shouldn't have been a problem, other than we were on a steep incline and no one had told her how to use the foot brake. She was either stalling it or rolling back. She rolls back and clouted my front mud guard. No damage but certainly gave her some space after that.
Anyway, it's hot, damn hot, and the main GP bikes have just finished their warm up.
Sent from my iPhone
posted by Matt Paines at 1:38
PM
Will the Rossi fan club get chance to
celebrate? #motogp
The roaming Rossi Fan Club have taken position immediately in front of us. They are carrying a huge black bin liner. In it appears to be large trophy, the way things are looking unless Lorenzo "comes a cropper" it's unlikely they'll be out on the track celebrating.
Posted by
Matt Paines at 1:55 PM
Lorenzo does it at the
Le Mans MotoGP
Sent from my iPhone
posted by
Matt Paines at 2:01 PM
Amazing how quickly
the stands are emptying.
Not five minutes ago, every seat was full in the prestige stand. I'm not surprised though, I've seen the car parks! Lol
posted
by Matt Paines at 2:09 PM
Access most areas
Spent a good part of today at the back of the paddock and the VIP areas. Great view of the grid, podiums and the team trucks. Really cool!
Now the last race is over, and given previous years, not in any rush to sit in traffic.
The low rumble of 100's of motorbikes can be heard in the distance.
Sent from my iPhone
posted
by Matt Paines at 3:10 PM
Honey I've really
lost the bike!
Monday,
May 24, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 6:41
AM
All packed up, get some breakfast and
loads of coffee. Running to time so far. www.gpbikeblog.com
posted
by Matt Paines at 11:51 AM
160 miles down.....
Making
good time, should be able to change our 5pm ferry to something earlier.
€20 for fuel, €2 for bottle of water, €1 for choc bar, listening
to other bikers tales of woe, having camped at the track... Priceless
Sent from my iPhone
posted by Matt Paines at 1:15 PM
Not quite Kenyan peaberry or Machacomacha but 1st coffee
in 6hrs
posted
by Matt Paines at 3:52 PM
Managed to get
an earlier ferry www.gpbikeblog.com
The
ride home has been really enjoyable. It's been between 22 and 27 deg C since we
set off. Unlike the ride out, all the thermals and linings were packed away in
the panniers, and we've been riding with our jackets open, just to keep cool.
Only downside to that is a fly in the neck, at 130kmh, stings a bit.
Which reminds me, the toll roads 130kmh speed limits, with reductions around junctions,
IMO are so much better than the system in the UK.
Making good
progress so we have a little time for food, rest, and a relax.
Sent
from my iPhone
posted by Matt
Paines at 5:26 PM
It's going to be late, before
we get home.
Posted by Matt Paines at 10:22 PM
Home sweet home
After starting
out at 8am CET we finally get back by 10pm BST, 530 miles, hot sweaty but happy.
No real dramas, other than a small fuel leak on the ZZR.
As it's been
such a long hard day, and TBH, being as I've been dressed in biking leathers in
25 to 30 deg C heat for the last 15 hours, I need a shower desperately! So good
night, I'll blog more from today tomorrow.
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday,
May 25, 2010
posted by Matt Paines at 11:08 AM
The ride back from the races
Having had a good nights sleep the ride home was so much better than the ride down. We'd planned to be up and packed away by 8.00 am, as it happens we managed to get sorted by 7.30 meaning we only had to have breakfast before setting off. As we headed to the club house, some of the other lads were trying to bump start (unsuccessfully) a Fireblade with a flat battery, having jump leads in the bottom of my panniers I ended up digging around to find them.
We'd packed the bikes up all set to go only to find that the ZZR had a small petrol leak around the reserve switch. After resetting the securing clip it improved and we decided that Ian would be safe to ride it back. In the end we still managed to get away just after 8.00am.
The whole ride back through to Calais was effortless and without further incident, the roads were clear the temp steadily climbed to 27 deg C, even the first and largest section of toll road was free to bikes, which was a bonus.
Managing to get to the ferry early and then managing to get an immediate sailing, could not have been better. We were booked in and loaded within 10 mins of arriving at the Sea France check in desk and sailing within a further 10 mins.
Once the other side of the channel, the temp had climbed even further, it was now showing 30 deg C. Our only delay came after we'd got up the M20, round the M25 and onto a road works section on the M1. A broken down truck was blocking the outside lane. We were both running low of fuel by this time and we were getting concerned that unless we started filtering through the traffic we might not even get the the services 10 miles away.
It was noticeable how few UK drivers would make room for filtering bikes in the traffic. In the congestion on the roads around the Le Mans track area, the French drivers were really good at giving bikes room. In fairness they are also very good at moving out of the overtaking lanes.
Posted by Matt Paines at 12:24 PM
Hell of a #motogp weekend!
Have to say for those that have never done a trip
like this, but always wanted to, don't put it off. Everywhere we have been, where
there are bikers we have always had a laugh and a joke. From the couple on the
Blackbird we met on the outward ferry, to the groups of riders at the various
fuel stops, towns, car parks, viewing stands and of course the people we met at
the camp site. If you are riding a bike, somehow there will always be someone
that will come over and have a chat.
We have been spoilt with the weather on this trip, we had to pack for every eventuality, still wish I hadn't taken my shorts and summer gloves out when I was trying to get everything packed, but who knew.
I want to thank all those who have followed my ramblings, especially those that have taken the time to comment and Re-Tweet in Twitter.
I took almost 600 photos during the trip, some will be poor or at least uninteresting, but others are stunning! I'll be sifting through and start sharing them soon.
In the mean time, my good friend John Bennett @jb205 will be starting his trip to the Mugello MotoGP in a week, he'll be picking up the reins so please come back and see how he gets on.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
posted
by Matt Paines at 1:22 PM
Journey home from Le Mans
after the #motogp
Labels: Ride home from Le Mans MotoGP
posted by Matt Paines at 2:38 PM
Ooooh
la la, Le Mans MotoGP Paddock Girls 2010
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GP Bike Tours 2007-2010
All Rights Reserved
Labels: le mans motogp paddock girls, MotoGP paddock girls, paddock girls, umbrella girls
The
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Le
Mans Photos - MotoGP Casey Stoner -Pit
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Ooooh
la la, Le Mans MotoGP Paddock Girls 2010
Journey
home from Le Mans after the #motogp
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