25 April | Grand Prix Of Japan 2010

This was the deciding championship event for 2008 when Rossi, against all rumours, did not hold back to stay on the bike but pulled out all the moves and manage to claim the title with an outright win. Those of you there will remember the show put on following the finish line and the atmosphere in the paddock. It was ellectric!!!

The Motegi circuit is set in a huge parkland area in a very rural part of Japan. The park features the Honda Museum, where exhibits such as the original CBR 1000 and bikes ridden by Hailwood and other legends will be sure to recall fond days of youth...! There is a high tech exhibition hall, a nature exhibit/trail, a kiddies pocketbike track (cool!) and tons of shops, concessions, and more on the weekend.

You can get around the track to see the action from several viewing points. Recommend to pop over to the Z 90 degree corner for some hard braking after the downhill straight into the right angle turn. The final corners - under the overpass and into the final chicane, are where the race is often decided. This is where Dani came off in 2007.

Japan can be an intimidating place, especially if you have never been there. It is a VERY difficult race to manage on your own -- there are no hotels nearby, and the local taxi drivers as a rule speak no English.

It is for these reasons that in addition to our own expert staff leading the tour, we employ a Japanese tour guide. As in last year, we will welcome Shinichi -- 'Mad Sam' who is an active racer in the Japanese Superbike league as well as the Suzuka Endurance race. Since he knows most of the Japanese riders personally, we got to meet a lot of them! They are all a wonderful, mad bunch!

We take the stress out of the weekend by taking care of you every moment. Generally you will fly into Tokyo and take the bullet train up to our base of Utsumomiya where we will pick you up from the station. Our package is dinner, bed and breakfast - we do something cool every evening making it a very full programme! Friday night is an opening reception with a traditional Japanese meal (absolutely delicious!); Saturday we take a private tour of the Honda Museum and dinner and drinks. Sunday is our winding down dinner in town, and a few visits to the local pubs is not unknown!

If you want to extend the break, come back to Tokyo with us on Monday where we are organising a private guided tour and a visit to a club or two to take in the night life. Some riders are bound to turn up!

Motegi is a truly special event -- make this if you can, you will have a weekend to remember!