Photo Trip Report: Malaysian MotoGP, Sepang, KL

[buksida]

Warning: this trip report contains a plethora of images of fast motorcycles and pretty girls, if you are offended by either in any way look away now …

I’d never been to a MotoGP race before but have been following the sport for years. Thought I’d finally book it up and go before Rossi retires, which can’t be long now, I’d also promised the kids I would take them. Booked the grandstand tickets through the official website back in June, they worked out at just over 2,000 baht each. The tickets for the Buriram race were double the price, and getting there twice as long. The flights from Hua Hin to KL cost about the same, booked at the same time – flight report here. Since KL is over an hour away from the airport we stayed at the Empress Sepang Hotel, 10km away, which cost around 7,000 baht for 3 nights, room sleeping four people.

Saturday is qualifying and we got to the track at about 11am. The taxis in Malaysia are bandits for want of a better word so the Grab app was a lifesaver, getting less than half the rate they were quoting.

Leading up to the entrance is a mall/market/festival type setup with all of the manufacturers, sponsors, rider’s tents etc. These guys don’t make their money from riding motorbikes – they make it from the sponsorships and selling merchandise. An official Rossi Yamaha shirt will set you back 1,600 baht, as does a cap – no fakes for sale in here.

Anyway I got a little distracted leading up the grandstand entrance …

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Oh right, yes ... we did come here to watch a motorcycle race ...

More to follow ...

[Big Boy]

I wasn't offended

I hadn't realised that you had gone for the Moto GP - it all makes sense now

Oh, nice photos - thank you.

[buksida]

Ok, on with some qualifying. These are Moto3 and Moto2 bikes, 250cc and 600cc machines. They are bloody fast and seriously loud.

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To follow ... the big boys ...

[migrant]

Great pics as usual! The stands look pretty empty, did it stay that way?

I see a few that I'd like to ride.....motorcycles you perverted bunch, motorcycles.

[buksida]

This was just the qualifying, Sunday every seat was full! Over 104,000 people there according to the official count.

[buksida]

It was time for the big boys to qualify. Now the sound of these things going round literally makes your hair stand on end ...

More to follow ...

[Big Boy]

Was DSC_0991 a Thai driver? Going the opposite way to everybody else

[Blacky]

Awesome pictures buksida! Though I'm not sure if I would have made it passed the market/festival....

Cheers,
B.

[Scout]

Have to admit, I was one of the perverted bunch Nice pics, thanks for sharing !

[falanglongtime]

Great pictures, even the the bike riding ones

[dtaai-maai]

0718 - that really shouldn't be allowed...

[lindosfan1]

I agree with D.M about 718, but 726 looks very interesting.
The motor bikes look interesting, was it difficult to concentrate on them.
Great pictures though.

[buksida]

I get the feeling the girly pictures are more popular than the motorcycle ones. No fear though, we had to walk back through the festival bit to get out - but not before the heavens opened and qualifying was suspended ...

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More to follow ...

[buksida]

Well I know that you've really been waiting for these photos, the bikes are just a distraction right? Honda tent was by far the best, just as well they won the constructor's championship.

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To follow ... race day

[buksida]

Race day was pretty much more of the same - just a lot more people. Commentators said around 104,000 total attendance. Naturally the traffic was a standstill getting in so it took over an hour. One annoyance was that the only beer available was shitty Singha since they sponsor it - at 125 baht a tin. We made our way to the end of the grandstand to secure some seats at the hairpin where the best photos can be had, most people wanted to be at the start/finish line. The photos are pretty much the same as day one so I'll just post a couple of highlights.

Would go again for sure, a little better planned next time, not so reliant on taxi bandits and getting there earlier on race day. The Buriram race looks interesting but needs to be booked very early to get anywhere near a similar price.