Moto GP 2008

I was in KL for Moto GP in Sepang last weekend. Planned to post this up earlier but did not manage to do that.

Although I'm not a big fan of Moto GP, but I do know a few famous names such as Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi. I am actually more excited about visiting Sepang International Circuit more than watching the race itself. Sepang Circuit was opened almost 10 years ago but I have never been there before. The only time I see Sepang Circuit is during plane take off from LCCT.

Spend Sat night in KL and on Sunday, the whole family wake up at 6am to get ready for the event. Clean up, get out for breakfast, pack things up and by about 7.30am, we were ready to go. The drive to Sepang takes about 45mins. On the way, we see many big bikes heading the same way as us to support their favorite rider.

Arriving at Sepang circuit, things are not well organize. There are no proper signboard to guide visitors to parking lot, I only manage to go to the correct place after a few wrong turns. The organizer only knows how to collect parking fees. Each car was charged RM5 for parking.

Next, parked our car and walk to the ticket counter to get tickets.

Many people were queuing up for tickets

We got ourselves a Main Grandstand seating for RM80...

Not as expensive as F1

Another thing I'm not satisfied with the organizer is that when I ask for informational brochure such as map/plan, time schedule of races and etc, the person at the counter told me "finish already". It was only 9am! Luckily I did my homework before hand, I checked the race time online the night before.

The event on Sunday starts as early as 8.40am with the 125cc warm up followed by 250cc warm up then 500cc warm up. The final race will start at 11am with 125cc, 12.15pm with 250cc and finally the MotoGP 500cc final at 2pm.

Nice pair

On our way into the Main Grandstand, there were many booths along the way selling motorcycle accessories, helmets, jackets and motorcycle display. In the background was the sound of 125cc bike vrooming in the circuit for their warming up session.

I like white

I took my time to check out all the big bike exhibited. Some even have SOLD OUT cardboard on them.

Testing out the new Kawasaki Ninja on display. I chose this bike coz the color matches my cap :P

This is the new Ducati 1098s. Wana make a guess how much it cost?

Italian bike, DUCATI 1098s, 1099cc
People just wont leave the bike alone, so i had to take the photo with Mr. kwai lou on it

Here's the displayed price:

Can buy a very good 4-wheeler with this price

Not only were there motorbikes, bicycle that looks like Harley motor were also on display.

Check out my new shoe, they are for the upcoming Penang Bridge Marathon :)

Finally reaching the Main Grandstand. It was so hot and I was already sweating like crazy. There were only very few people at the seating places, most of them are still crowding the booths. I walk around the area trying to look for the nicest view for the Moto GP final later on.

The walk to Grandstand

And finally decided that this turn here would provide the best corner maneuvering...

The race starts on time, as scheduled.

The bike needs to be push to start...lao yeah..

At the starting block, all bikes line up

Ready to be flag off

The place that I chose to sit seems to be a good spot. I witness and accident. That might sounds like a bad thing, but accident do spice things up during races, don't they? During the 125cc race, there was a small crash. A bike lost control and fell, luckily other bikes at the back manage to avoid it. The rider was quick to abandon his bike and limp to the side. The staff near that area were quick to the rescue. Everything happen so quickly, didn't manage to capture on camera.

This is the best I can get with a 3x zoom point-n-shoot

The sun is very strong that day and it was really really hot. But sitting at where I am, I can feel a continuous breeze that kind of cool things down a little.

At the end of the race after the checkered flag was raised, there were some small performances by the bikers. It is how they greet and thanked their fans.

As soon as the race is over, the audience were fast to leave. Most of them don't even bother to stay for the cup giving and 'champagne shooting' ceremony.

Many people started to leave

Spotted. Shirtless big size kwai lou...

At the same time, there was a fight going on. A Malaysian man was trying to fight with a tall skinny foreigner and there were other man trying to hold them 2 back.

So many people circling them to watch a fight right after the race

Many people there, I didn't get to see what really happened or whether someone got punched. Malaysian fighting with a foreigner? Mensiasuikan...

It was 4pm when we were walking out back to our cars. Big drops of rain started to pour little by little. We were lucky to reach our car before the rain hit. Raindrops were big but it was not consider heavy rain. Jam all the way out to the highway.

That ends my first experience to Moto GP race at Sepang Internation Circuit. It was again back to work the next day. Blue Monday :(