MotoGP BBQ Sunday 16^th October, 2005

Honda CBR929	Ian Payne	Suzuki GSXR1000	Lyn Duncan
Honda CBR1100XX	Martin Hastie (rear)	Triumph 955	Ern Reeders
Honda CBR929	Ben Warden (lead)	Honda CBR900	Shane Hindle
Suzuki GSXR1400	Ron & Faye Solomon	Honda CBR929	Peter Weyermayr
Yamaha R1	Graeme Arnold (1^st ride)	Honda VFR750	Renzo Cunico

I was really hanging out for a ride after having been on holidays in Borneo for the last three weeks. So it was good to see the large turnout at Berwick for this social type event.

Ben gave a quick rundown on the route, Martin volunteered for rear rider, and we were soon away heading for Pakenham and the usual back roads to Longwarry, then north and across the Princess Highway passing through Jindivick and Neerim South. This section of road has now become a Club ‘favourite’ with a good mix of high and low speed corners, undulations and fast straights. All too soon it was over and we dawdled through the Neerim South township. It seems we had not seen enough of Neerim as then Ben led us on some challenging back roads through Neerim East, Neerim and Neerim Junction.

We then travelled through Nayook to pick up the fast Noojee/Powelltown road. I was quite content to sit with the bunch and slotted in behind Ron and Faye on the Busa, having not ridden for a while. Ron was riding a bit more sedately than usual, no doubt due to the missus on the back. Graeme flew past and although the leathers looked familiar, the bike didn’t. Previously we would always see him on his classic Suzuki powered Macintosh rather than the much newer R1!

The Powelltown general store made a welcome break and conveniently had the 125GP race telecast showing. The old store has certainly been spruced up since I was last there and we would have stayed longer if not for our lunch date at Rob Langer’s in Burwood.

I was keen to get to Burwood in time for the 250 race having seen the MotoGP in Malaysia and personally spoken to Casey Stoner. Ben agreed, so we headed off towards Yarra Junction, then diverted on some back roads to Woori Yallock and Yellingbo. We then tried a newly sealed section of road to Macclesfield and Avonsleigh that proved to be a nice little diversion. We continued on to Emerald and Belgrave before picking up the Burwood Highway for the final stretch to Rob’s which bought the 195km ride to an end.

We arrived just in time to see Stoner fall, so with no further interest in the race, it was time to eat. As usual Rod and Kirsten put on a great spread. A leisurely lunch gave me a chance to catch up with some of the others at the BBQ: Liz Oliver and baby Danielle, Carmen Debono and Les Leahy.

With two TV’s, great food and company, a very pleasant afternoon was had by all.

Ian Payne (Honda CBR929)