[Ducati] Fwd: motoGP 2007 dream tour (the long version)

[Ronald Betts]

Really did enjoy the read. Came off as  normal guys Most Excellent Weekend ! Thanks for taking the time to share...I hate you....;-}>Peace...Ron"Desmohead"Betts 95 900 SP I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it!> To: ducati at ducati.net> From: info at motomille.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:27:33 -0700> Subject: [Ducati] Fwd: motoGP 2007 dream tour (the long version)> > OK... I had to forward this. Very Ducati relevant. Very long read.> > Pete> > > Begin forwarded message:> > >> >> > ---------------> >> > On Friday June 29th just after 4pm my plans changed.> >> > I had not intended on attending the motoGP. I learned that I and a > > group from work would be heading down to Laguna-Seca for a full > > technology review on how our products at Apple were used in the > > Dorna production pipeline. We would be touring their onsite > > facilities and having conversations about opportunities for > > improvement. This would be a 2 way conversation we would suggest > > ways to optimize their workflow as well as gathering information > > about how we could add features to our toolset to make future > > productions that much easier.> >> > Thursday night I headed down to connect with a group of friends > > that have rented the same Bed and Breakfast for many years now. > > Fortunately for me they had room... not the optimal sleeping > > accommodations but I wasn't going to complain. Not knowing exactly > > what to expect but having seen a preliminary schedule of events for > > friday I was, needless to say, very excited. We headed down to > > Bullwackers for dinner. Out on the patio Neil Hodgson was signing > > autographs promoting his new Corona sponsored Honda... There was > > much conversation about how he was a world champion and barely > > anyone was there to see him.> >> > When we came out of Bullwackers there was quite a commotion going > > on... multiple cops, paddy wagon, lights spinning and a large crowd > > gathered right in the middle of Cannery Row. We did a bit of > > asking around to get the story and the summary is: Thursday morning > > a bike was missing from a trailer. Thursday evening they see the > > missing bike on cannery row. The friends of the owner call the > > cops to report it stolen. A member of the Ruff Riders jumps on the > > bike and goes to take off... the friends block his exit to give the > > cops enough time to arrive.. they find out he is a felon and still > > has the ignition core in his pocket and a screwdriver to start the > > bike... OFF to jail he goes. Bike off to the police station to wait > > for the owner to arrive.> >> > Enough excitement we called it an early one and were off to bed.> >> > We started the day at 8am to pick up our credentials and then head > > over to the track to connect with the guys from Dorna. I had ridden > > down to the track so I only had the motorcycle as my means of > > transportation and the 3 other guys from Apple followed me to the > > track, well sort of. Scramp decided to put a little kink in the > > plan of me guiding my coworkers to the track. Our first meeting > > was scheduled for 8:30am and it was close to 8:15 as we arrived at > > the South Boundary Entrance...> >> > I pull up to the gate with parking pass and credentials displayed > > and the rent-a-cop working there states "no motorcycles".> > " I am leading these two cars to a business meeting that starts in > > 15 min" I explain.> > "no motorcycles"> > "we are meeting with the international organization that put this > > entire event together and YOU are going to make us late, the two > > cars behind me don't know where they are going and I have been > > asked to escort them to the meeting."> > "no motorcycles"> >> > This goes on for a few minutes before I finally let the overly > > ambitious rent-a-cop have his way and I try to explain the best I > > can as to where they need to go/be. I then head off on my 1/2 tour > > of the northern part of Ford Ord as I now have to take the LONG way > > in, despite the fact that I am less the 5 min away from the track > > and could make the lives of those I am leading that much easier.> >> > The path through Fort Ord is a nice ride... but you can hardly > > enjoy it when you are super frustrated at the previous situation. > > As I am heading up the hill before the Bridge to the infield I see > > one of the cars I was leading heading down the hill, they have no > > clue where they are going, I flag them down and get them to follow > > me, but there is no sign of the second car. Too many people > > directing traffic, and none of them knowing exactly where any of > > the specific locations are. So they are forced in to one parking > > space as I am directed to another location even though we both have > > the same EXACT parking pass, mine clearly visible in my tank bag, > > and theirs clearly visible in the windshield.> >> > After parking we head into the paddock to meet at the media center. > > At this point we are 30 minutes late and get news that our the 5th > > member of our team was stuck in Chicago over night and won't be in > > until at least noon. No worries... we connect with the guys from > > Dorna and we are off to our first meeting.> >> > We spent the first 1/2 hour or so making introductions and getting > > an idea of what to expect from the days ahead. First up is to tour > > the logistics behind shipping the gear from site to site. > > Everything from the Dorna side is loaded up into cargo crates and > > shipped from location to location via a pair of jumbo cargo > > planes. The team bikes are also shipped via cargo plane as well > > and are typically mingled with the other gear Dorna is relocating, > > this is done to ensure that the whole show is all together. This > > was fascinating to us because Dorna runs all the logistics behind > > the loading and unloading of things and doesn't subcontract this > > out to some transport company. This would be a hint at how > > involved Dorna really is in the entire process.> >> > After chatting for a while with the team we went up to the > > corkscrew to watch the friday morning practice from 10-11. This > > gave our host some time to get back to his directing gig and hop > > behind the console as the practice started. We watched him control > > the action for a bit and then hopped in a Suburban and we headed up > > the hill. For the remainder of practice we sat inside the wall near > > the jib camera which was just fantastic. We arrived Just as > > Hofmann was t-boned by Guintoli. So close to the action, no chain > > link fence in the way. We made sure when we headed back down to > > see some highlights of the crash from various different camera angles.> >> > Toward the end of practice back down to the paddock to tour the > > control rooms for all the on track cameras. A total of 96 cameras > > are in use at any given time. Covering nearly every inch of track > > and getting a great deal of overlap so we as fans don't miss a > > single bit of action. (if we do miss something it is most likely > > because speedtv went to commercial)> >> > breakdown.> > 66 on board (only 4 active at any one time due to a limit to analog > > bandwidth)> > 20 track> > 4 pit> > 1 crane> > 1 podium> > 1 jib> > 1 helicopter> > 1 paddock> > 1 ground> >> > Their command center for the US consists of 2 rented media trailers > > that are filled with NTSC equipment for all the on track capture. > > This includes all on track cameras (minus the roving hand held > > cameras and the onboard cameras) The content is captured to a > > digital system where all clips are tagged with metadata to allow > > for instant access to any element of the race needed for play > > back. The best elements from this system, either live or > > prerecorded, are then converted to PAL and sent to a 3rd trailer > > where all the feeds are put together for the international feed > > (the commercial free feed we can only see via http:// > > www.motogp.com). This is where everything we see comes together.. > > This control room is where the director is calling the show from > > start to finish. Trailer 4 contains all the controls for the > > onboard cameras/systems ( more on this later). Trailer 5 is where > > all the offline editing happens, they make all the tapes for > > various television stations as well as production of the DVDs and > > downloads found on the website. From the time the race ends to the > > time the DVD is finished is less than 6 hours. Pushed out to DLT > > and shipped off to the replication facility in order to be on the > > "shelves" by the wednesday after the race.> >> > Over 12 hours of live material is produced at every venue. > > Approximately 135 million people watch the races LIVE in 184 > > countries and approximately 300 million see each race. In 2006 > > nearly 3,600 hours of footage was created for the GP season. 45 > > different broadcasters make this possible and this doesn't included > > the downloads from the motoGP site.> >> > These numbers are staggering.> >> > This is all possible because Dorna has its own engineering staff of > > 16 to keep all their gear running for every show. Minus the rented > > NTSC systems they have everything else to make the show go. With > > the help of technology and hardware companies they have designed > > hardware and software to fit extremely specific functions. > > Software development includes metadata tagging, onscreen data > > visualization, timing/scoring management, advertising air time, > > team air time, time spent per bike, onboard controls, radio > > management, scheduling, media management, accreditation services as > > well as customer relationship management. Hardware development > > includes, onboard systems, control room communications, cabling, > > camera enclosures, wireless camera systems, camera cleaning systems > > and future technologies.> >> > Just after practice we headed over to the garages to get a tour of > > their camera systems and a couple garages to see how they were > > installed on the bikes. Our tour started in the camera garage, > > then proceeded through the Ducati, Honda and Yamaha garages.> >> > The relationships they have built with various technology companies > > have allowed them to get coverage in amazing ways. Their onboard > > systems are truly remarkable. It is entirely self contained and > > the only connection to the bike is to keep things from wiggling > > around. No tethering is necessary to the bike's electrical system. > > All enclosures for the cameras are custom carbon fiber housings > > that are designed by the staff in spain.> >> > • 4 cameras, 1 front facing with a auto cleaning mechanism, 1 butt > > camera we are all too familiar with (visions of rossi diggin for > > gold), one rear facing camera, and a "lipstick" camera that is much > > more of a micro camera than anything, this camera can be placed > > anywhere on the bike: foot, brake, clutch, forward facing low or rear.> > • gps module for speed differential calculations> > • lean angle monitor containing 3 micro gyroscopes> > • microphone for on bike sounds as well as audio analysis of the > > engine noise to approximate RPMs and to give accurate gear indication> > • bluetooth module to allow for rider data such as body temperature > > heart rate and soon to allow the rider to talk to the garage but > > not to receive information> > • multiple antennas for both transmitting and receiving> > • high frequency antenna for system control> > • a data box> > • battery power> >> > All that and only 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds). All teams must equip > > their bikes with this equipment but where they put the system is > > entirely up to them. Dorna engineers work directly with each team > > to ensure the system can be configured and located on the bike > > according the the team's desires.> >> > Such amazing technologies to make sure we don't miss a single bit > > of information.> >> > The walk through the garages made my palms sweat and heart race... > > These bikes are beautiful.. I was able to snap a few shots in the > > Ducati and Yamaha garages but the Hondas were pulled apart and they > > requested us not take pictures. The mechanics were very open to > > our desires to fondle the bikes and it made for some moments of > > elation as we gently squeezed the grips on the various bikes and > > imagining our selves being in the boots of, Casey, Loris, Nicky, > > Valentino and Colin. I had no interest in Dani's bike and I think > > there are plenty of people that share the same sentiments. As we > > were exiting the Honda garage Dani was on the way in, I played the > > part of a gentleman extended my hand wishing him good luck and > > continued on our way. It was time for lunch.> >> > We had lunch in the Dorna tent where a home cooked italian meal was > > prepared by their traveling catering staff. Nice and light and the > > perfect amount of food.> >> > After lunch we headed outside of the front straight into the timing > > box near the red bull bridge to get an over view of how they keep > > track of all the information being generated. The second hour of > > practice was about to start so the timing box would be another > > great vantage point to see the action. The director of timing and > > scoring showed us systems that they had created and explained the > > various pieces and parts. He talked through the fail safes they had > > designed into the systems and how it was both a visual as well as a > > transponder based system to ensure accuracy. He also talked through > > how all the information was sent back to Barcelona so that the > > website could be kept up to date with all the latest scores.> >> > We then headed off to have a couple hour conversation with the > > heads of various aspects of their production.> >> > When the production meeting was over it was nearly 4pm and our main > > host quickly grabbed me and the only other Apple guy that had a > > prior interest in the GP racing world... we didn't know where he > > was taking us... Into the media center for a press conference.> >> > A press conference with some of the previous US worldGP > > champions... Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, Freddy > > Spencer, Kevin Schwantz. The interviews were conducted by the > > british announcer of the motoGP who's name I cannot remember at the > > moment. It was very interesting to hear the conversations about > > the sport and where it is going... many of the champions agreed > > that the http://www.redbullrookiescup.com/ would do wonders for the > > sport and help get some more talent in the sport.> >> > After the press conference ended we headed back to the Dorna Office > > to see what the plan would be for saturday. We made our plans and > > started to head off as our host handed us the keys to a few of the > > pit scooters and asked if we wanted to go out for a few laps. UH > > YEAH!!! Being the only one of our group that had been on the track > > before and the most enthusiastic about motorcycles the put me in > > the lead. The scooters maxed out at about 40mph downhill with a > > stiff wind so it was slow going, but nonetheless an absolute hoot. > > Full throttle through the corkscrew... who knew it was possible. > > HAH. this was just a taste of what was to come.> >> > Dinner plans for 15 quickly turned to 18 for our Bay Area VFR > > owners group and the place in pacific grove was able to accommodate > > with out a hitch. Good food, good friends and good conversations.> >> > After dinner a few of us headed to old town monterey to check out > > the area that Red Bull had sectioned off for the stunt show. http:// > > www.chrispfeiffer.com/ was the main attraction. I must say... it > > was VERY impressive... remarkable amount of control. The show > > ended and we headed to the plaza hotel lounge for some drinks. An > > hour or so later it was time to head back to the B&B. We walked out > > and my roommate headed toward the nearest cab as the door opened I > > recognized the woman getting out of the cab as he got in. Pretty > > trippy. She said we should connect the next day so I could head up > > to the Red Bull Energy Center with her and her boyfriend ( who just > > happens to be a pace car driver for Laguna-Seca).> >> > what a DAY. Still 2 more to go.> >> >> > Saturday morning I headed over to the track around 8:30 with a > > couple other guys from the VFR list and upon arriving at the track > > I headed down to see what the day's schedule consisted of. There > > was a meeting scheduled after lunch so we had the morning to roam > > around. Two of us headed up to the corkscrew during the morning > > practice for a bit... walked down past Rainey corner and then all > > the way over to the turn 5 bridge and into the vendor area. We > > strolled through the vendor area to see what all was being pimped, > > crossed over to Ducati island and then headed back to the Dorna > > tent to connect for our meeting. After the meeting we had lunch > > and they made mention of a possible ride in the M5 pace cars. What > > an amazing car that thing is.> >> > We walked through the garage tents after the Pace Car Ride and > > managed to spy Valentino as he was heading out to the garage. As > > he walked by I extended my hand to shake his as he was prepping for > > the qualifying session. I wished him much luck and his response was > > "thank you very much."> >> > Still on a high from being that close to the doctor we headed up to > > the VIP village to watch qualifying. Not necessarily the best > > vantage point for the full experience but plenty of plasma screens, > > food and drink to make up for the lack of incredible views... that > > was just around the corner. Qualifying was pretty exciting for the > > last 10 minutes... hopper kicking and casey pulling it out after > > time expired. Pretty exciting.> >> > Qualifying ended and we I had planned on meeting my friend and her > > boyfriend just outside the VIP village. We connected and they > > brought me up to the RedBull Energy Center. It was SWANK. we are > > talking lounge style environment.. 2 floors, open bar, tons of > > food, and the hipsters/jetsetters were a plenty, show bikes > > everywhere, and an UNBELIEVABLE view of the track... Sitting up the > > hill above turn 1 you could see 80% of the track.. and what you > > couldn't see was up on the TVs. I was introduced to Jesse Rooke > > http://www.rookecustoms.com and I asked him to walk me through the > > bikes he had on display... there were a bunch of his and a > > beautiful bike by Roland Sands... Not big into the custom bikes.. > > but this was SLICK http://www.rolandsands.com/RSD/assets/ > > NoRegrets.html> >> > The AMA super sport started just after 4 and I watched the race > > from up in the energy center... GREAT vantage point... this is the > > view that the VIPs should have. Glad to be up there to see the > > replays of josh hayes going outside in six and sending himself into > > the gravel... bone head move.> >> > After the AMA races we hung for a bit as the track emptied out and > > then headed back to the B&B to freshen up for the evening. That > > night I met up with the ducati guys and met Jeff Nash. Had dinner > > at Cibo's and had drinks with some of the laguna seca pace car > > drivers. All in all it was another night of great conversations.> >> > Got back pretty late to the B&B. Tired. Still another day to go.> >> > 7:30am Sunday morning my phone beeps... text message... "how much > > do you weigh"> >> > LONG LONG PAUSE..... HOLY FUCK I am going on the Duc.> >> > I respond 200#s. the response back is "in kilos".... 90... meet > > me at my office at 10am and don't be late. I am ABSOLUTELY giddy. > > Giddy as a schoolgirl.> >> > I pack the panniers and the top box knowing that I am heading home > > after the day is done. At 8:30 I head off to the track to see what > > awaits... I am extremely excited but still not 100% certain of > > exactly what is happening. I am greeted and passed on to another > > member of the Dorna crew where I am informed that it is the 2UP > > ride I need to get prepped for. Sign some papers... a trip through > > the medical tent for a BP and Heart rate check up.. all is good so > > it is off to the Alpinestars motorhome for some more briefings. I > > need to preface this with the fact that I feel like the lowest man > > on the totem pole in this room... director michael mann (miami > > vice), actor kip pardue, actor john hensley, actor giovani ribisi, > > wes brewer from SanDisk, and this guy alex from LA that does high > > end home theater installations for celebrities. I am humbled by > > just being here.> >> > We all get fitted with the race replica leathers, the supertech > > boots, a pair of gloves, and an Arai RX7 helmet. we are set to > > go. Randy arrives and gives us a pep talk about how the ride is > > for us, talks through the signals/communications and a bit about > > what to expect. Asks everyone in the motor home our level of > > comfort and everyone talks about riding experience and talks about > > how the pillion rider can affect the ride.> >> > He suits up and we walk through the paddock... the crowd parts as > > we emerge from the paddock tent area and we head through one of the > > GP privateer garages to the pit lane where the bike is set up. > > HUGE crowd is gathered... michael jordan, tim allen, david allen > > greer, greg white, jason lee, and a TON of other people. I notice > > a coworker in the crowd and he starts snapping pics (thankfully), > > I was hoping someone would be out there with a camera, cause I had > > no room to hide one. The order was set... michael mann was first, > > I was second and giovani was after me... after that I didn't try to > > keep track of the order. all 7 of us do a dry run on the bike to > > see what the body language will be, then Randy walks through the > > crowd for photo ops with the crowd that has gathered.. giovani > > shares with me how he is freakin out and just ready to GO! John and > > Kip are of equal excitement and we all share sentiments of how much > > of a rush this is going to be.> >> > Next Randy Fires up the bike and goes out for a couple laps to > > scrub the tires.> >> > Go time... They corral us over to the pit wall break that opens up > > on the the track.. they set up a red "security rope" similar to > > what you see at any night club, and get michael ready and Randy > > rolls up and does a Rolling stoppie from about 20 feet out. Michael > > hops on and they are off for a pair of laps... They come down the > > front straight and Randy lofts the front wheel in the air and I am > > signaled that it is time to put the helmet on. As they come back > > through turn 11 the second time I do my best to suppress the > > butterflies that I can feel as I see the bike getting closer.> >> > No time to think about that... concentrate... CONCENTRATE... you > > are about to go faster around this track on the back of a bike than > > you will probably ever go by your self.... now GET ON THE BIKE.> >> > Grab the handles, slide the butt back... squeeze the legs and we > > are off. Front wheel immediately comes off the ground as we head > > up the hill under acceleration... quickly settles down and we are > > quickly gaining speed. Cresting the hill into turn 1 the wheel is > > coming up as we are starting to lean it over for the second of 22 > > corner (2 laps). The wheel comes down and we are hard on the > > brakes for the andretti hairpin. I look through the corner and spot > > the exit point and head toward 3. Tip it right head toward 4 we are > > just getting warmed up. The first lap is so Randy can see our > > comfort level through the corners and allows him to judge how hard > > he can push it on lap 2. Heading up the hill into seven I remember > > how blind the corkscrew really is. Snap left... wheelie down the > > corkscrew... settle the front and tip it right for the entry into > > rainey which is the double apex down hill left.... At this point I > > can tell the rhythm is great and we are moving synchronously. > > After turn 10 the front gets a bit light again and we set it up > > wide for the quick flick in to 11.> >> > Going down the front straight the front gets light... and stays > > light for what seems like an eternity, the wheel was off the ground > > the entire length of the grid and I don't think it settled until > > well past the finish line. Turn one is much smoother this time and > > with significantly more speed we enter 2... Randy turns his head.. > > gives me the thumbs up and indicates this time it is going to be > > MUCH faster. I feel at this point if I were to stick my knee out I > > would be draggin it... I strengthen my grip on the bar and we are > > working together to keep the fluidity of the ride. turn 3, turn > > 4... front gets light... we are going WAY FAASTER.... Look over his > > shoulder, keep the rhythm. HARD on the brakes.. MUCH harder on the > > brakes going in to turn 5... I can really feel the forces trying to > > send me into his back crushing him against the tank but I hold > > strong and my chest doesn't make contact. The bike gets a bit > > squirrelly under acceleration but quickly Randy has things back > > under control. We are headed up to 6, 7 and up to 8 for the roller > > coaster ride down the cork screw... absolutely FLYING through turn > > 9 again I am close enough that I feel I could just stick my knee > > out a bit and I would be draggin but I hold position and we rocket > > toward 10. Coming through 11 for the second time I can feel the > > back step out a bit and we are heading toward the line I was > > previously standing in. As we approach the rope I feel a hand on > > my left knee to signal I need to tighten my grip on the seat. > > Rolling stoppie and we are done... Giovani.. your turn.> >> > WOW.... Unbelievable. I have A LOT to learn about bike control. I > > can't wait to come back to laguna with my bike in November. I > > revel in the fact that my heart is pumping and I can feel the > > adrenaline flowing.> >> > I stroll around the pit wall as people crowd around to ask > > questions... seems as though michael had disappeared and was off to > > his next big thing. I see greg white.. he comes over and asks me > > how the ride was... I am speechless. I regain my composure and > > introduce myself... we chat for a bit and I tell him we need him > > back on the air promoting responsible motorcycling. I let him know > > a LOT of people miss his show and he was doing wonderful things for > > the community. He asks a few more questions and how I got > > connected to do this.. I give him the 2 minute elevator speech and > > he wants to keep in touch. So I give him the email and we shake > > hands and he says he will keep in touch.> >> > Giovani is back and is smiling Ear to ear. Not that you can see it > > under that ENORMOUS mustache he is sporting ( when we were in the > > motor home he informed me his next role would be einstein, PERFECT, > > he totally fits the part). Jason Lee walks over and Giovani and he > > start chatting about all the excitement. He introduces me to Jason > > and I let him know that pro skater turned actor is quite the > > resume.. he laughs and we have a great few minutes talking about > > "earl" and the hilarious scenarios of the show. I chat with a few > > of the other people hovering around and soon the queue of riders is > > finished and we head back to the motor home to return to our less > > than super hero status.> >> > As I step off the pit lane I am greeted by one of the Dorna guys > > who holds out an encase DVD and says " a gift from dorna" ... my > > jaw drops... video... of the whole thing? INCREDIBLE. if you are > > reading this and have made it this far in my story I am SURE you > > have seen the video. less than 15 minutes after my ride I am > > holding a PAL formatted DVD of my entire experience. Am I > > dreaming... this weekend can't be real... some body pinch me... on > > second thought DON'T why would I want this weekend to end.> >> > We chat for a bit after changing back into our plebe clothing and > > Randy addresses each of us individually. He wants to know what we > > do. I tell him... he informs me that he will be in the US for the > > next few weeks and his parents live less than 5 miles from Apple... > > asks if he can come by for lunch one day... UH YEAH... NO problem.. > > he gives me his number and lets me know that he will be gone from > > wednesday to sunday and to give him a call to let him know which > > day will work for him to come by. Wednesday it is... I also told > > him that the Ducati north america office was across the street and > > I could call my friends there and we could head over after lunch... > > he says "great, I have never been."> >> > How am I going to unwind from this.> >> > Well no time to think about it... I am next greeted by another > > member of the Dorna team who adds another credential to my neck > > hangers and lets me know that I can walk the grid with the press > > during the "umbrella" stop. SPLAT... I thought the VIP status > > was enough... Now I get to walk the GRID, don't wake up now... keep > > the dream going... we head out to the pit wall where the BMW M6 > > rolls up and an Apple coworker hops out and in his best Will Smith > > impersonation says " I's GOTs to GETs me one of these"> >> > We push up against the pit wall and the bikes roll out of the > > garage for the tire scrub lap and we wait for them to start rolling > > in the grid boxes. As they round turn 11 the pit crews, us and the > > media are allowed through the wall to see everyone in their zones. > > I snap a few pics and just walk around a bit to absorb, trying to > > stay out of the way as much as possible. Valentino, Nicky, Casey, > > Hopper, Vermeulen, Marco, Loris, Miguel and Colin. As I snap a > > couple shots of Colin he hops of the bike and heads over to hopper > > there is a friendly exchange and a hug from Colin and the smile on > > Hopper's face is huge.> >> > The anthem begins.. and the f18s do their fly by and we are > > escorted to the opposite side of the wall for the start of the > > race... The flag comes out, the flag goes away... and the roar of > > bikes go screaming by us standing at the finish line. As we are > > heading out of the pits we hear screams from the stands and look up > > to see hopper sliding across the track and nicky fighting to keep > > it upright. we quickly rush up to the suite and watch the replay. > > From there the race was pretty uneventful, it was really nice not > > having to listen to the commercials and have the roar of the bikes > > as they came ripping down the front straight.> >> > It was over 45ish minutes later and we were outside to snap a > > couple shots of the bikes as they victory wheelied across the line > > and the GP was over.> >> > After the race we met up with our friends from Dorna to decide on > > next steps and they felt that it would be good for us to be in > > Valencia for the final race where they would be testing a 16x9 > > format. For next years GP it will be in 16x9 format. In 2009 will > > be in HD.> >> > Looks like I have something to look forward to in november... > > valencia for the first weekend and a keigwin's day for me on the 14th.> >> > I can't wait.> >> >> > Thanks for taking the time to read this... I know I am not the most > > eloquent writer, so hopefully it wasn't too painful for my faithful > > readers.> >> > questions, comments... let me know.> >> > I know I am EXTREMELY lucky to be a part of every aspect of the > > story above, and I am still in awe about the whole thing, a true > > chance of a lifetime. I thought my passion for motorcycles was > > large but this just confirms that it is beyond enormous.> >
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