As I mentioned, I won free tickets to the main stand at the GP and Jane managed to get us accommodation at Inverloch, about 40 minutes away. Drove down on Friday (due to the wet weather, we decide that it was better to be down there in the car wishing we had taken the bikes, than be down there on the bikes wishing we’d taken the car!). Pissed down from Melbourne to Cranbourne, but then fined up – floods near Inverloch due to a week of rain were running a banker.
After brekky of bacon and egg sangas and coffee at the bakery, we drove from Inverloch to Phillip Island on Saturday morning and were hit by another heavy passing shower. The parking areas were a muddy mess and we directed down to the bottom of the paddock. Were not confident of getting out. The guy behind us got bogged! It never rained again the whole weekend. Wondered around the track and the industry sites and watched the time trials. The sun came out and dried everything off. And the car came out no worries! Went to Cowes on Saturday night for the street party and to see all the bikes. Toseland wandered through. perhaps he shouldn’t have – he copped a jumped start penalty the next day!
Fed up with junk food, we bought olives, tomatoes, salami, crackers and dip for tea in our apartment. And beer and apple cider.
Caught the bus from Inverloch to the track on Sunday. The driver told us he’d leave 30 minutes after the last race ended – no time to watch the podium because the buses were parked far from the main straight! Spent most of the day in the stand. The Australian Superbikes, 125s and Gp were the best races. (ASBK riders polled better times than the latter riders of the Moto GP). Some spectacular crashes, including that of Chris Knox, ASBK, who ran wide onto the main straight, into the grass and then was tumbled along the main straight for half a kay, ending up unconscious and with a broken leg in front of our stand. Not a good sight to see when it happens so close – it’s different on tv – he was like a rag doll. Because he crashed in front of the pits (figures on the edge of the track), the circuit doctor was first on the scene.
The crowd roared when Lorenzo speared into Hayden, presumable because he now couldn’t beat Rossi, and also because Hayden is considered a tragi-comic hapless loser. Why-o-why have Ducati signed him up again? Give it to Elias! A fantastic race between Stoner and Rossi. The crowd wouldn’t have minded who won, loving both riders. They came to their feet when Stoner crossed in front.
Hot-footed to the bus and we were glad someone else was driving. Had a relaxing night in Inverloch and drove home on Monday. Bikes everywhere. Nice to see.
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