Moto GP BBQ           Sunday 19th October, 2003

 

This could turn out to be one of the shortest write-ups yet. I rode out to the pick up point at Whittlesea in the pouring rain, waited for 30 minutes and then rode home again. A well lead ride at a pace that all were happy with. No incidents to report except that I found I could do Whittlesea to Sunbury in 25 minutes in the wet. Arriving home I was met by Craig Morley (Falcon), Ron Johnson (Falcon), Jon Riddett (BMW), Di Welsford (Excel) and Tanya Walker with boyfriend Jeff (Commodore). As it was still raining the barbeque was done in the garage and eaten inside. The racing was fantastic on the 109cm TV. It was like you were really there, except we were dry and warm and didn`t miss any of the action.    Thanks to those who came, and to me for leading such a fantastic ride on some interesting roads (not). Hope to see more people next year.                                                                                                                          Ray Walker

 

Meanwhile at the Philip Island on Saturday were Rhys Williams, Ken Wright, Dave Ward, and Darryn Webster. It was a glorious 28 degrees and perfect racing and qualifying conditions. Rhys rang me drooling over the new ZX10. He reckons the lads put it on the dyno and it was putting out 157 hp at the rear wheel, and it only weighed 165 kg. Good numbers. The first tests should be interesting. Ken got to meet Collin Edwards a few days later and Collin is pretty sure Rossi will go to Yamaha and Collin is off elsewhere as well.

 

On Sunday I headed down to The Island with Darryl Chivers on his R1100S BMW. I met him at the Burke Road South Eastern Freeway intersection. My boots were already soggy. It rained the whole way. The bike park was a giant bog waiting to happen. Luckily they issued everyone with pieces of wood to slip under your side stand. I had brought a couple of pieces of wood just in case.

 

Darryl and I headed for the Motorcycle News Pavilion, with almost everyone else. It was still raining and the Moto GP bikes were about to leave the pits for 20 minutes warm-up, or in this case, get some wet weather practice! Darryl found his work mates and I bumped into Geoff and Ben Jones who had also just arrived, sensibly in the car, having walked across from Lukey Heights. Darryl figured he could get home and watch the Moto-GP race in front of the TV rather than this wet misery and left soon after. I must admit the idea was tempting but there was plenty to see and do, and I couldn’t get any wetter!

 

The Joneses and I decided to make our way down to Southern Loop and around to Siberia, after checking out the bike stands including the new Kawasaki ZX10, Yamaha R1, and Honda CBR1000 – including a stripped down version showing an electronic, automatically controlled steering damper sensing road speed, we presume. Only the Suzuki gals were in attendance draped over the new stacked headlight 750 and 1000. Why that 750 doesn’t sell better is anyone’s guess. It has more than enough of everything.

 

We watched the 125 race en-route to Siberia for the “best” viewing spot at the track, atop the mound. The 250 race came and went. I gave Liz Oliver a call. Liz and Pete were on the main straight somewhere and we didn’t get to meet up. By about 3pm the track was drying fast and come 3.30, and the main race, the track was completely dry. I was hoping the race would be broadcast on the local FM band as per other times, but alas the water had gotten into the broadcast station works. Or else they weren’t broadcasting, but I heard they were on Saturday. Geez those GP bikes are loud. I wore ear plugs for the race.

 

The race was fast and furious in the opening laps and very exciting. Then Bayliss crashed and Rossi bolted and the fizz went out of the race, Rossi winning by 15 seconds, including copping a 10 second penalty for passing under a yellow flag. I walked across the infield to the podium and then the bike.

 

It was a long trip home after refueling at San Remo, cleaning my visor and lubing the chain. Traffic was light, cops were everywhere, including a couple on BMs doing a roaring trade at the Cranbourne lights as guys wheeled for the crowds. Hit reserve at 267 km (normally 230 or less) on the following week’s ride and thought I had forgotton to reset the trip meter.

 

Thanks to Ben and Geoff for good company all day.                                                                 Ben Warden