10:20-ish:
We've arrived much quicker than expected, thanks to all routes behaving themselves.
Having had a cuppa tea behind Luffield we have strode purposefully across
the empty plains of Silverstone that, 14 days ago were full of MotoGP fans
and the entertainment stage, to take photos at Brooklands.
Note the sky: the BBC (and alternative web sites - we always check these things)
have forecast all sorts of weather for today.
Could become very interesting.
10:30-ish:
Motostar riders are qualifying now.
This is Dirk Geiger (GER) on his Keifer Racing Honda NSF 250.
10:50-ish:
A mish-mash of threatening cloud formations to the west.
11:30-ish:
Nice steady stroll over to Farm to watch the Superstock 600's qualifying.
George Stanley - BWSR Kawasaki - leads Milo Ward - MWR Kawasaki.
The sky above Farm.
Doesn't look too bad.
11:50-ish:
We know folk say that Silverstone is a car circuit but there's no need
for two STK600 riders to prove the point like this, is there?
Aaron King - Kings Racing Kawasaki - and Joe Sheldon-Shaw - Via Moto Kawasaki -
are the riders forming this 4-wheeler at Village.
Seconds later and it might be nice here at Village
but Stowe looks like it's getting some rain.
12:05-ish:
We've walked to the inside of The Wellington Straight
in time for the BSB qualifying session.
Shaun Winfield - Anvil Hire TAG Racing Yamaha - has Andrew Reid
(as far as we can tell) - Tyco BMW - for close company here.
12:10-ish:
Vicky drinks one tea and guards another whilst David nips off to
take photos at Maggotts whilst his tea cools down a bit.
12:15-ish:
Sylvain Guintoli - Bennetts Suzuki - hurtles into Maggotts.
No time to take any more.
Gotta drink our tea and then get to the Paddock Cafe whilst it's quiet.
13:10-ish:
Dinner consumed, if not particularly enjoyed (the standards have dropped
in the Paddock Cafe in recent years - must be run by someone new perhaps?),
we stumble across the BSB Qualifying Ceremony.
Jason O'Halloran (AUS) - Honda Racing - has done the honours today.
Good on yer mate, an' all that.
Jason leaves the Ceremony Area (is there such a thing?)
and Vicky ensures we get him from all angles.
He looks happy, anyway.
13:20-ish:
Tommy Philp gets ready for Supersport 600 qualifying.
13:40-ish:
Let's take a little walk along the back of the BSB pit garages
to see who we can find.
Aha! Here's Tom Ward, and he's got all his training 'bikes with him.
Oh wait a minute.
13:45-ish:
A real rider nice and close-up thanks to his team inviting us in!
Nice one. Thank you.
It's Luke Hedger about to go out on his STK1000 EHA Racing Aprilia.
Sponsoring a rider in the BSB doesn't cost
as much as you might think.
13:50-ish:
STK1000 riders about to leave the pit lane.
13:52:
Um….Vicky…..may I draw your attention to the weather heading our way?
It's time to leave the exposed paddock and find some shelter
in the sanctuary of one of the Copse grandstands.
It's raining to the east as well.
Sheet lightning and all-sorts.
14:05-ish:
Whilst spectators find shelter, those in the
front line remain resolute.
14:20-ish:
It's stopped raining, didn't last very long, and we've walked back
into the paddock to watch the KTM Cup riders get ready to go out and race.
They're all young and some of 'em look dead 'ard.
This is Jordan McCoord.
An olde man about to film the KTM Cup riders leaving their pits.
Note thunderstorm disappearing to the south-east.
14:50-ish:
B*gg*r! It's raining again.
Vicky and others take refuge where they can.
But Vicky doesn't want to stay here long.
She wants to go to Luffield to watch some races.
We've got an umbrella Dave. Let's go!
OK Vic.
15:00-ish:
We're at Luffield now.
It's stopped raining and the KTM Cup race is almost over
as the leading 3 riders head for the finish line.
15:15-ish:
Not nice at Club……..
…….but very nice here at Luffield.
15:25-ish:
Motostar GP riders plough on whilst
Asher Durham….um….simply ploughs.
15:55-ish:
There's clouds over Club again.
BSB riders are on the grid.
The track up here is dry but it's wet down 'the bottom'.
Teams have tricky tyre choices to make.
Not all of them will get it right.
16:30-ish:
An unexpected trio are about to cross the line in first, second, and third.
Glenn Irwin (Ducati), Josh Brookes (Yamaha), and John Hopkins (Ducati),
round Luffield for the final time.
17:00-ish:
Rainbow (part) over Woodcote.
17:45-ish:
The Supersport 600 race is even closer than the BSB one.
Keith Farmer, Andrew Irwin, and Benjamine Currie
fought it out for the race win.
17:55-ish:
Time to go.
Look at the weather now.
Always the way.
It did rain on the way home tho'.
Hard an' all.
Brilliant day tho'.
Fit Bit stats:
David: 14,551 steps, 6.77 miles, and 16 stairs.
Vicky: 18k steps, 7.5 miles, and 136 active minutes.
Howard shows loyalty to a British marque.
