Camping at Estoril

Saturday 5 May 2012  - Estoril GP Qualifying Day

Day 22 and 135 to go

The dreaded lurgy has struck again! This time me. Grr. No time to be sick this morning we were awake at 7 and on the road to the race- track by 7.20am.
There were plenty of other people arriving at the same time so we were glad we had made an early start. Not only that the roads were quiet.

It was obvious many other vehicles had parked up for the night and would continue to do so over the weekend.

We had breakfast and then I returned to bed hoping the rest would help. We were again facing onto the end of the straight and when the bikes started up it was like they were coming straight at us.

I got up eventually at 11 and joined Paul. We played cards for a bit and then had lunch before we made it over to the track for the qualifying races that were beginning at 1pm.

The stands were a little more crowded today as expected but we were able to find a place on the cold concrete at the far end of the stadium. The Moto 3 race was up first. Unfortunately after last week when our two Aussie boys fell off they were not in the money. Pole went to Cortese. 

The MotoGP followed with Casey right in the mix.  Our TV screen went blank (which impressed the crowd no end) just as a crash with 15 min to go stopped the riders but when they returned Casey sealed pole from Pedrosa and the English rider Crutchlow. Yippee good race tomorrow. We have no idea who fell off.

The Moto2 came on at 3. I was beginning to fade but was able to hang on for the end to see Marquez take pole for tomorrow.

We walked back to the van. The crowds of parked cars were slowly disappearing. I had a sleep for a couple of hours while Paul read the program.

At 6.30pm I was up, feeling like I had been hit by a bus. I ate dinner before we got out and had a walk around the unofficial campground. There were tents everywhere and people sleeping in cars. They were cutting down green branches in an attempt to make fires and cook dinner. Was all a bit nuts.

With it not being a campground there are no facilities provided. I would not want to be one of the long-suffering girlfriends with no loo.

We returned to the van. I was feeling a little better after popping some Panadol and antibiotics.

The crowds around us were generally quiet with only the occasional firecracker and rev of an engine. We could hear bikes being worked on inside the pits as well.

I was hoping I would feel somewhat better to enjoy the race tomorrow.

Off to an early bed.