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| The Royal Box, viewed from Pit Lane. |
On Gardner Strait,
directly opposite the start finish line, is the Royal Box. Don't be fooled by
the tacky livery on this room built for four. Inside you will find large, comfortable
chairs, air conditioning, two TV screens, a bar fridge filled to the brim and
your own personal host who will allegedly get you "anything you want."
I won the exclusive use of this fully catered facility on race day; it doesn't
get better than that.
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| Royal Box luxury. |
We were making
ourselves feel right at home by 10am and Jordan, our host for the day, wasted
no time in serving bacon and egg muffins, two each if you could fit them in. When
the MotoGP bikes rode onto the track for their twenty minute warm-up we swapped
coffee for champagne and beer and kicked back in our leisure chairs smiling all
the while.
We went hands-on
for the start of each race and ventured outside to our own private viewing
area. General admission punters tried to sneak into our space but they were
quickly removed by security. Australian Moto3 rider, Jack Miller, had us all on
the edge of our seats as he took the lead and then lost it again from one lap
to another. "Come on Jack" was the cry coming from inside the Royal Box
every time the Moto3 dudes flashed passed our picture window. Jordan served
more man food half way through the Moto3 race but we soon wolfed it down and
were standing again ready to cheer Jack across the finish line - Jack won the
race.
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| I have been a Rossi fan for years. |
The MotoGP race didn't
disappoint with team mates Lorenzo and Rossi having a good clean fight until
Lorenzo's tyre choice haunted him and Rossi pulled out a convincing lead.
Marquez looked like he was going to run away with it until he binned it ten
laps before the end, leaving crowd favourite, Valentino Rossi, to pick up the
spoils and bring home the race win. Ducati maestro, Cal Crutchlow, should have
finished second but he lost the front end on the last lap and failed to finish.
Lorenzo was second and Bradley Smith third.
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| 250 starts, 7 championships, 108 wins & 194 podiums in MotoGP/500cc |
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| Rossi's pit board. |
The crowd poured
onto the track as soon as the safety car declared it "safe for human
consumption" and we left the sanctuary of the Royal Box and joined the
scrum beneath the podium. It seemed unbelievable that Rossi was celebrating a
race win on his 250th MotoGP start. "250 Not Out" banners were waved
by thousands of fans as the winners sprayed champagne into the wind. It was
great to see Bradley Smith on the podium for the first time in 2014. I remember
Bradley from the 2006 Sepang MotoGP, they called him the Smith Kid back then,
he was only 16 years old.
That night we
walked into Cowes for the last time, savouring the last moment of the MotoGP
weekend. After all, attending the Australian MotoGP was on our bucket list and
we sure did it in style.
The Royal Box was
part of an Australian Motorcycle News competition where we were asked to
define, in twenty five words or less "How MotoGP riders defy the rules of
nature." I wrote:
Lightening Speed, Quick Wit,
Sixth Sense, Ultra Fit.
No Fear, Electronic Control,
Tyre Grip, Insatiable Soul.
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| Australian Motorcycle News stand at the GPexpo. Thanks AMCN! |
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