Friday, May 22, 2009
Follow us to Mugello

After a week of problems with my bike which saw the AA taking me home at 4.30am last Tuesday and finding out I needed a new generator.

I now believe I/we are ready. There may be only four of us, myself JohnB GSXR 750, John Gilday GSXR 1000, Rob White CBR Fireblade and Gareth Knowells Fazer 1000. The adventure starts Tuesday when we leave for Dover. Three of us will be leaving from West Bromwich at about 12.30pm ish as we have to meet Gareth at South Mimms on the M25 about 2.30pm ish

Monday, May 25, 2009
14 hours to go
Ok the state of play for the Mugello trip, we are all ready although, due to work commitments , John Gilday will be meeting us in Dover.

Last minute problem with Blackberry email, heading down to the Orange shop to sort.

The other last minute change is we will be taking waterproofs.

Stage one 5:24 PM

Well, we all arrived at South Mimms at the same time, 2.20pm, and after a coffee and some fuel we were off again. Should be arriving at Dover 4.46pm, covering some 209 miles

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Arrived at first hotel

At the Dover Premier Inn hotel after food and beer, just in time for more beer waiting for John Gilday to join us

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Day two

So here we are, I'm the first up showered and ready to go.

We have to be at the port for 7.30am as we sail at 8.30. Then motorway to Dole and Genève by the end of the day for our overnight stop.

On the boat 8:33 AM

Just left dover on what should be about a one and a half hours to Calais . And full English breakfast. Ready for some motorways but looking forward to the bendy stuff after Dole.

Lunch 2:36 PM

Got off the boat at 10.15am we have covered about 250 miles today, 445 miles total. So far the cost of fuel is approx £50, toll charges £13. Weather warm & dry just had some lunch, I think we should get to our hotel about 8.00pm ish

Breakdown 7:50 PM

45 miles away from our hotel and Rob's Fireblade breaks down, we think it's the battery. I'm impressed it's lasted most of the day. Sent for the man from AA, arrived after 45minutes.

Not going to be fixed tonight, Rob staying locally at a hotel, with the bike, and we will continue to Geneva. Hopefully we'll know more tomorrow when his bike will be fixed.

Thursday, May 28, 2009
Bike fixed 6:11 PM

We're on the final leg of the trip. With Rob's bike being fixed in the afternoon we had to continue, the plan is for him to catch us up.

Thankfully Rob's now on his way, it was the generator. It's put a dent in his wallet to the tune of €600.

We are about 95 miles away from our hotel in the walled town of Prato. One thing is for sure, we shall be having a beer or maybe too many tonight.

Friday May 29, 2009 6:43 AM
Rob stopped for some sleep somewhere near Genova about 1am.

We are going into town for pizza & beer.

At the Track - Practice day 1:31 PM

Its hot. The road into Mugello from the hotel is just mega, sweeping bends hairpins what else can I say.

Rossi looked quick from the start as did Melandri. Oh, Rob got here about 12.30pm - and fell asleep.

Wallace bar 4:21 PM

Time for a beer after leaving the circuit. There are many resaurants within the walls of Prato, one Scottish bar begged a visit, the Wallace bar.

Storm warning 7:32 PM

Thunder clouds are rumbleing over Mugello, but better tonight than tomorrow.

Dinner at the hotel 9:02 PM

Sea bass to go

And back to the Wallace bar for some good old Scottish hospitality.

Mugello Qualifying Day 12:47 PM

Disaster, unlike the locals, forgotten the glasses for the vino and the bread for lunch, so had to buy sandwiches at the track, hmmmmm....burgers.

But as for the vino, it may look like a carton of orange but cut the top off and it's a glass.

AND news flash Bradley Smith is in pole, with Scott Reading in second.

Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:09 PM
Mugello MotoGP

Lorenzo pole, Stoner second, Capirossi third, Rossi in fourth. Lots of late action with the top four snatching last minute positions.

Dinner out 10:24 PM

Went out for a meal to one of the many restaurants. I ordered what I thought was a pasta dish, what turned up was a plate of raw meat and two pieces of toast. Hmmmm not impressed, pizza and beer tomorrow.

Sunday, May 31, 2009
Mugello - Race Day 9:58 AM

Up early this morning to the circuit, met up with a friend to collect two paddock passes. This was worth it's weight in gold. We managed to get some great pictures of Capirossi, Rossi and Haden...oh and a few paddock girls too.

Managed to sit on a two seater Ducati racer until an Italian official got involved.

It's not very warm this morning, and is on the damp side.

Initial practice saw Casey Stoner have a major rear slide.

125's racing next, just been declared a dry race will Bradley or Scott get a podium?

Bradley Smith wins at Mugello 10:49 AM
Bradley Smith, on pole, had a bad start dropping to 6th by the end of he first lap but managed to recover the lead for a significant chunk of the race. Danny Webb and Scott Reading battled into 4th and 5th when suddenly with 12 laps to go Danny Webb had a huge off on the down hill chicane.

The pack of 8 separated with Smith, Terol and Simon battling at the front. Final results Bradley Smith achieved his second win this season.

1. B.Smith
2. N.Terol
3. J. Simon
4. P. Esparagaro
5. M.Marquez
6. J. Zarco
7. S. Reading
8. S. Bradl

Heavens open for 250's 11:13 AM
A wet race is declared for the 250cc race.

Pasini wins the 250's 1:52 PM
Bautista on pole and it's wet, very wet. Simoncelli took the lead from the start and virtually disappeared into the distance. Bautista and Pasini pulled back the 6 second lead by mid race. Simoncelli and Bautista had a coming together but both managed to stay shiny side up but the off resulted in Pasini taking the lead.

Bautisa managed to catch up with Simoncelli, 4 laps to go. After having a couple of attempts at overtaking Bautista had a huge moment which almost saw him high siding. Fortunately he managed to hang on and must have decided a 3rd was going to be good enough.

Simoncelli managed to get close enough with two laps remaining to contest for the lead from Pasini. On the last lap there was a succession for passes, with real wheel to wheel racing - a real heart stopper in the wet.

1. M. Pasini
2. M. Simoncelli
3. A. Bautista
4. T. Luthi
5. H. Barbera
6. H. Aoyama
7. A. Debon
8. H Faubel

Stoner wins the Mugello MotoGP 1:52 PM

Lorenzo was on pole, but fell off in the warm up lap. At the start of the race Lorenzo suffered a lot of wheel spin resulting in him rapidly dropping down the field. Dovizioso led the field early on with Pedrosa, Rossi, Stoner, Vermeulen and Melandri leading the rest.

The track is drying, Toseland was the first to change onto dry tyres, with 15 laps to go and Rossi now leading many of the riders start to swap bikes.

Melandri passes Rossi on Lap 14 and the leaders all pit to change to dry's.Pedrosa takes a low side with 11 laps to go appearing to have hurt his already injured hip. Toseland has got up to 6th having passed Melandri.

9 laps to go Stoner leads Capirossi, a lap later Capirossi takes the lead but by lap 5 the Ducati takes it back.

Lorenzo gets past Dovizioso to take 3rd, followed with 3 laps to go by Rossi. Stoner meanwhile has gapped 2nd place Capirossi by 1.3 seconds.

Both Yamaha's of Lorenzo and Rossi get past Capirossi with 2 laps to go to take 2nd and 3rd. Toseland gets himself to 6th with team mate Edwards hot on his heals.

Final results

Back to the town 8:45 PM

By the end of the main event it started to rain again. We had a bit of a wet journey back to the hotel.

We thought after the disaster of last nights meal we'd try a different restaurant. All going well so far, the prawn cocktail starter was as expected and I'm pleased to say as was the pasta dish afterwards.

Rob, the human dustbin, is full! that's a first.

We've had a few drinks with our meal, but we have enjoyed our time so much at the Wallace bar we've decided to go back for a nightcap, or two.

Monday, June 1, 2009
Leaving Italy 6:04 AM

Nearly time to leave Italy, the weather is wet but warm. I'm up first and starting to pack. After breakfast and packing up the bikes we'll be back to mile munching for the return leg of our trip.

We have an overnight stop booked in Dijon, which is about 500 miles from here. Although I'm pleased to say that there is some of the best scenery and roads you could imagine for the first section of today.

So it's going to be a long day, much time for contemplation and my thoughts are now directing towards the next trip to the Brno MotoGP for which there are still places available, but they are going fast.

Anyway time to start turning some wheels, and play with some great roads.

Arrive Dijon Hotel 10:13 PM

We arrived at our hotel in Dijon at 9.15pm, we've spent nine hours in the saddle so it is safe to say we are all ready for food and a chill.

We should have an easier day tomorrow, just 350 miles to Calais.

Anyway a quick shower followed by a nice steak, find a relaxing well stocked bar for a couple of beers and a chat about the roads and the views.

Total milage so far 1875 miles.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Trip back to Calais 11:06 AM

This morning started early with breakfast at the hotel. After packing up the bikes again we left Dijon and covered our first 100 miles before our first fuel stop.

Lunch break 1:19 PM

Just north of Reims we thought we'd stop for lunch and a spot of sun bathing. We are making good progress, and without tempting fate with another breakdown, we are going to try for an earlier Ferry with only 150 miles to Calais.

Calais 4:25 PM

Arrived at Calais 5.25pm French time.

Managed to get on the early boat 6.25pm sailing. We are staying at the Premier Lodge again tonight, so it's a leisurely crossing, food, beer and a good night's sleep before the final leg and the home stretch tomorrow.

Tunnels 10:19 PM

After a good meal at the Eight Bells in Dover, John Gilday informed me that on the journey home we had gone through 100 tunnels in Italy and 7 in France. Don't you just love going through tunnels on a bike.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Good start for the trip home 9:29 AM

It is said "an army marches on it's stomach", well we're not an army, but it's true that "motorcyclists ride well on a good breakfast". A good starter for the day which beats the continental breakfasts hands down.

Home 8:45 PM

Arrived home about 1.30pm. The four of us covered 2.787 miles and only had the one problem Robs generator on his fireblade which is just one of those things other than that everyone had a great time with good hotels. Great roads. And weather. Amazing racing. Fuel costs around the £300 mark. Toll cost about £200. So go on come and join us at brno give me a call on 0121 270 6703 or 07779 611084.
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