Estoril GP Practice Day

Friday 4 May 2012  - Estoril GP Practice Day

Day 21 and 136 to go

And so it starts again. Paul was up and ready to get the day started at 8am so I followed suit. We were out and on the autovia by 9am. The traffic was somewhat more hectic than at lunchtime yesterday. We had a hold up because of a car accident.

We arrived at the track at 9.30 and were directed to parking. We could see a number of other motorhomes had parked up for the weekend. Was a bummer we didn’t see it yesterday. As the parking was limited we decided it maybe wise to stay put Saturday night rather than go back to the campground as planned. We will see what it is like tomorrow.

We walked around to the entrance and collected our tickets before checking out the merchandise and picking up the token pin and t-shirt as mementoes of the race.

We then walked to our stand on the start finish line and across from the pit boxes and podium. There were no seats allocated which is a bummer, as it will mean every man for himself on Sunday for a good vantage point. As there was only one screen at one end we headed for that so we could see more of the action. Being on the straight is great for the start and finish, but when it comes to seeing the corners where the action is it sucks. We will rely on the video to see most of the action.

As it was bitterly cold we returned to the van for a game of cards. Where we were parked we could see riders on the back corners so it wasn’t all bad.

We had lunch, played more cards and then returned to the track when the GP bikes returned for their second practice round. We sat closer to the Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi pits so we could see what was happening, before heading to the far end for the Moto2 run.

I was glad for the earplugs today as you sit a lot closer to the track and I am sure the big concrete stadium funnels the noise and the wind straight into you.

At the end of the practice there was a chance to do a pit walk so we joined the line and waited for the entrance time. We were stood behind 2 SA teachers on long service. We chatted to them while we waited it out. 

When the gates were opened we were ushered downstairs and under the track before coming up inside the pit area. We walked the tarmac heading straight to the Stoner bay. We were hoping the riders would come out, but as they had finished over 1 ½ hours earlier it wasn’t to be. Instead we watched the mechanics working on the bikes. 

We did get to see some of the kamikaze kids who ride in the Red Bull Rookies races and we did get to see Pol Espagaro a rider in Moto2, take photos and get an autograph so it wasn’t a complete loss. 

We then returned to the van and with police directing traffic we made it out and back on the Autovia easily and were pulling up at the campground 20min later. 

We decided it would probably be an early start tomorrow, so we ate dinner and had a shower this evening instead of waiting until tomorrow. I returned to the internet wifi to update and check on home before we returned to bed.