9:50am-ish:
Given the diabolical weather forecast we've left home early and arrived early to try to get a little bit of dry weather before the rain predicted for this afternoon sets in. It has rained a touch on the way - which wasn't predicted - but its nice and dry now and quite warm-ish.
Indicative of the times we now live in there's a bag search at the entrance.
Then we buy a programme and get walking purposefully to the top end of The Wellington Straight to get some shots of riders going from left to right.
10:15-ish:
The MotoGP 'bikes are on track for their final pre-qualifying practice session.
This is Yonny Hernandez (Ducati) amply illustrating that you don't have to ride a 'bike in a straight line to go in a straight line down a straight.
10:30-ish:
The canny Victoria had nipped off ten minutes before the practice session ends to beat the rush and get the teas in. It's not a moment too soon 'cos we haven't had a drink since we left home at 8:45.
Note Vicky's Cool Box: we've got some very welcome buttery cold granary toast in there:
just the job to keep us going.
10:40-ish:
Riders gather at the end of the session for the ritual of The Practice Start.
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati), Tito Rabat (Honda), and Andrea Iannone (Ducati)
are the chaps doing the honours.
Not one to show off.
Scott Redding (Ducati) arrives.
11:00-ish:
The Moto2's are now on track for their final practice session.
This is Sam Lowes, at Maggots, who we hope will finish up on Pole once
qualification takes place this afternoon.
11:15-ish:
Hunger is setting in now and so we decide to walk up to Copse Corner
where we know there will be food outlets.
Even better, it gives Vicky a chance to take loads of photos of her beloved trucks on the way.
We really must go to a Truck Race Meeting at some point. Maybe next year?
David is instructed to 'look manly, like a trucker'.
He fails.
11:35-ish:
Johann Zarco at Copse.
Best helmet design in any class? You betcha.
11:45-ish:
The Lunch Break is quite early today and very welcome.
As is the traditional Cheese Burger and Chips for Mr Gannet. It's all washed down with a cuppa tea.
Vicky manages a couple of small mouthfuls of burger and one or two chips.
Given that she was in bed all day yesterday with a tummy virus, and ate nowt for the duration,
this is a veritable feast.
It's starting to drizzle now. You know, that rain that gets you really wet.
12:20-ish:
It's raining harder now and we seek refuge in the nearest grandstand at Copse.
Unfortunately, it's a 'Rossi Fan Stand'.
Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
Vicky is very pleased to be in 'The Rossi Fan Stand'.
12:40-ish:
The Moto3 Qualifying has started and riders are gingerly slithering through Copse.
Hmmm, this could be interesting.
12:50-ish:
Yep, it had to happen.
Adam Norrodin (KTM) is the fella doing the honours here.
1:10pm-ish:
No, I'll be alright, you carry on without me.
Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda) slides gracefully over the run-off.
1:15-ish:
The session ends and we all get a chance to gawp at Mr Adham Pawi's….ahem…..lightly damaged Honda awaiting collection.
1:35-ish:
We've taken a swift walk in the rain from Copse to the 'far side' of The Wellington Straight
to watch the MotoGP Qualifying.
'I'll have a 'P' please Bob!'
Danny Pedrosa (Honda) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) exit Aintree and set their sights on Brooklands.
Note Ice Cream Van in background. Not much call for that today.
2:00pm-ish:
Man Of The Moment:
Having won at Brno, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) only goes and sticks it on Pole!
Blimey.
2:25pm-ish:
The MotoGP Qualifying Session lasts for an hour and twenty minutes.
That's a long time when it's raining quite hard and we're out in the open.
So we wander over to The Tented Village to a) get out of the rain and b) to gawp at the the 'bikes taking part in The Barry Sheene Parade later on.
Can't remember which of Bazza's 500cc WC-winning 'bikes this is
but it's cowin' marvellous and that's the main thing.
A Dutch-fella has brought a display of his Barry Sheene memorabilia over to Silverstone.
We add our messages to the 'signing wall'. It's a truly emotional moment.
Sound of David's creaking knees not available, thankfully, on this blog.
2:45-ish:
Just 'cos I'm paranoid doesn't mean that folk aren't creeping up on me:
Tito Rabat (Honda) keeps a watchful eye out.
2:50-ish:
Not as fast as Cal.
Valentino Rossi (you may have heard of him) - Yamaha - has to settle for second on the grid.
We are gutted for him.
This could be painful.
Right at the end of the session Andrea Dovizioso parts company
with his Ducati at the exit of Aintree………
……..and takes quite a while to get back to his feet with the help of the marshals.
With the MotoGP session over it's time to head for the exits via one last cuppa tea and a chicken and mushroom pasty at one of the infield food outlets.
3:15-ish:
Vicky spotted this abandoned bird's nest, complete with egg, under the bridge as we walked in this morning. But we were in too much of a rush to stop and take a photo then -
so we take one now instead.
3:20-ish:
Back in the car park, loaded up and ready to go.
We have done over 10,000 steps and walked just over 4 miles.
That's below average for us when it comes to a day out at Silverstone.
Rain tends to focus one, and so we've done less 'wandering'.
And yes, it's still raining.
We are home safe and sound by 4:45pm-ish, knackered and ready to wind down.
Roll on next year!
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