It's just before 11 o'clock, we're on our way to Brooklands corner, Scott Redding apparel is flying off the racks like…..um…..Scott Redding apparel, and Moto2 Practice is about to start.
For us, this is a late arrival but we hope to stay a bit later into the evening to watch James Toseland and his band on stage. Given we have his CD it should be good but there's an 'elephant in the room': do we have the stamina? It could go either way.
Just gone 11 o'clock and Dakota Mamola (standing in for the injured Jordi Torres, we think) rides past in the style of his Dad on the Mapfre Aspar Suter Moto2.
We haven't had anything to drink since we left home at 9:15am. Time for a break. Gotta pace ourselves and keep our fluids up if we are going to stay late, eh?
11:35am and we're still loitering with intent at Luffield en route to that desperately needed drink 'cos David is refusing to be dragged away from the track when 'bikes are going 'round. He'll faint in a minute, you'll see.
This is Jeremy McWilliams (50 years young lest we forget) on the Brough Superior Racing Moto2. Our hats go off to him.
You can bet he's made sure he's had plenty of hydration an' all, unlike some.
11:55 and with the National Superstock's on track Vicky is finally able to persuade David to stop and sit down and have a drink of tea. Most welcome.
Ironically, the drinks emporium on the right had already run out of tea which is why we have had to resort to the cowin' burger joint.
Ironically, the drinks emporium on the right had already run out of tea which is why we have had to resort to the cowin' burger joint.
12:15-ish and we've walked through the hordes of fans milling around the outlets selling Scott Redding apparel behind the Woodcote Grandstands to the Start/Finish line in time to see the very last few minutes of the Superstock Qualifying for their race later (much later) in the day.
This is Michael Robertson on his Kawasaki 1000.
12:30-ish and we're en route to Copse Corner but there are hordes of cowin' people everywhere slowing us down. Don't they know we have a strict timetable to follow? Look, there's another one of 'em standing about taking photos of stuff. Gerroutavit!
We conclude that this is the biggest Saturday MotoGP crowd we have seen for years.
It's all Scott Redding and Bradley Smith's fault.
12:40-ish. Ah, the joys of Moto3 Qualifying.
Always frantic and entertaining whether we are on the outside of the entry to Copse or………
…. on the outside of the exit to Copse.
Two riders with their elbows out, one cruising, and another not looking where he is going.
Yep, par for the course, then.
1:20-ish. Moto3's antics have ceased and there's a welcome break in the timetable before the MotoGP 'bikes take to the track.
Vicky is pleased to stop at Aintree for another welcome cup of tea and a Waitrose Pain au Raison. Very civilised but at 1:30, on the dot, David is off to the top of Wellington Straight 'cos the MotoGP 'bikes are on track bang-on-time.
Vicky is pleased to stop at Aintree for another welcome cup of tea and a Waitrose Pain au Raison. Very civilised but at 1:30, on the dot, David is off to the top of Wellington Straight 'cos the MotoGP 'bikes are on track bang-on-time.
Damn the Timetable, says Vic, I'm staying put and so should you, you've got half a cuppa tea left!
1:35-ish and Jorge Lorenzo attacks the Wellington Straight on his Movistar Yamaha.
Hmm, thinks David, I'm feeling lightheaded. Perhaps I'd better return to Victoria and finish me tea?
2:00pm-ish and David is suffering the effects of dehydration and the effort of trying to pan a heavy SLR at the same speed as the finest motorcycle riders in the world.
Of course, like a lot of folk, he'd do well to remember that images posted on the internet stay on the internet forever.
2:15-ish and we've walked over to the other side of The Wellington Straight to find that upstart Mark Marquez-fella barely trying as he shifts through the gears on the Repsol Honda.
He makes it all look so easy. You can go off some people y'know.
2:25-ish and Karel Abraham checks we're ready to take a photo of him doing a practice start on his Cardion AB Motoracing Honda.
Yep, goferrit, Karel-mate.
2:40-ish and Vicky would kill David if this blog didn't include a shot of Dani Pedrosa.
Look how he gets the Repsol Honda a little bit crossed up, even on the straight.
Steve Parrish mentioning on the TV for the zillionth time that Dani he has an unfair advantage 'cos he's only a little-fella (as if all other riders are huge-fellas) now a thing of the past, thankfully.
2:50-ish. It's the end of MotoGP Qualifying and Pol Espargaro comes to a halt on his Monster Tech 3 Yamaha prior to doing a practice start whilst Valentino Rossi on his Movistar Yamaha doesn't.
No idea who's finished up on Pole but we can guess.
Scott Redding does a practice start on his Go&Fun Gresini Honda.
2:55-ish. Damn my weak bladder, Vic.
I'm not queuing up, I'll come back later after we've got another cuppa tea.
3:10-ish and we're in the open grandstand at Village for the Moto2 Qualifying.
Nice to have a sit down at last.
3:30-ish. Moto2 riders file through Village.
Very polite. Not like those young Moto3 ruffians.
4 o'clock-ish and it's time for another cuppa tea (over 4 quid for 2), followed by slightly too moist chicken noodles (£15) whilst we wait for the Red Bull Rookies to take to the track.
4:25-ish and we're back at Brooklands and the Red Bull Rookies Race is about to start on the half-hour.
The level of competition is always intense. This is only the Sighting Lap!
Hold on, something is going on on the Arena Stage. Let's go and investigate.
4:45-ish.
From left to right: Toby Moody, Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro, and Julian Ryder.
Two of these people are the funniest stand-up comedy duo in MotoGo and it's not Moody and Ryder.
4:55-ish and Bradley Smith comes over to the front and our side of the stage to sign stuff.
Move back a touch Bradders. Yer too close.
4:58-ish.
Pol Espargaro signs stuff.
5:10-ish.
By way of a contrast, Aleix Espargaro signs stuff and poses for selfies. It's all in a day's work.
5:20-ish.
Short-term MotoGP rider, Leon Camier, enjoys the well-deserved spotlight.
Somebody give him a full-time ride please.
5:25-ish.
Riders are coming to the stage thick and fast (no pun intended).
This is Drive Aspar MotoGP rider Hiroshi Aoyama.
5:35-ish.
Karel Abraham.
5:45-ish.
Stefan (we remember yer Dad) Bradl.
He's a bit battered and bruised. It would help if yer stopped crashing, we don't tell him.
5:55-ish.
Mark Marquez takes to the stage and the crowd goes wild wild wild.
Fans of Clutch will see what we did there.
Fans of Clutch will see what we did there.
6:05-ish.
Young fella-me-laddo Marquez.
He got a cheer almost as loud as that for Scott Redding (who hasn't come over to our side of the stage yet. Ah well. Can't win 'em all).
6:10-ish.
Scott and his team mate Alvaro Bautista are still here and they're coming this way!
People are on the verge of fainting. Seriously. But not us.
We like him, 'cos we do. But come on people, gerra grip.
6:15-ish.
Jorge Lorenzo is about to come on stage but we are knackered and decide it's time to go home.
Sorry Jorge, and sorry James Toseland and his band.
I mean, c'mon we're not as young as we were.
It's time to head back to the car, and the cool box containing our sammidges and cartons of orange juice, but not before David insists on taking one more action shot at Brooklands.
This is Leon Jeacock on his Superstock Kawasaki 1000.
6:20-ish.
Colin Edwards has announced his retirement but is rumoured to be amongst us. We didn't spot him but we do spot some of his fans.
So, one last pid and then it's off to the car for our tea and then the drive back home.
We get back home before 8 after another brilliant day out at Silverstone.
If MotoGP ends up Donington next year it will be a travesty. We wont be there.
DORNA, we have spoken.
