Problem
What must you spend and book to watch the motorbike races at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia? What will you see?
Sepng Circuit, Malaysia. Photo from Wikipedia by Mondayblues.
Answers
Track Entry and Seats
The good news is that my motorbike enthusiast tells me that entry to the track and seat prices are down this year.
Accommodation
The bad news is that during races the hotel prices and homestay prices double. The good news is that if you go with friends you have company and can also share accommodation. and it may be worthwhile renting an apartment.
Where To Sit
You need to book early to get the seats overlooking certain points of the circuit or to be with your friends. Nowadays, to prevent trouble, the supporters of different countries and teams are in different areas. This makes for great photos in newspapers and on TV, a sea of yellow for supporters.
Are all the entrants from one country friends? Are the competitors from different countries friends? Some are, some aren't. Sometimes the top people from different countries have known each other since they were all young hopefuls, not competing for vast sums the way they are now, and the friendships have endured.
Others are deadly enemies, refuse to smile or shake hands. One rider may think that another tried to force him off the track on a previous occasion - or rides dangerously all the time, endangering all the other rides.
A week before the race, the seat allocation for the supporters of 'the favourite' had sold out.
Who is your favourite? It could be the person from the country where you live, or used to live. It could be the person who has won the most previous races and has gathered so many points that whether or not he wins this race, he is still ahead of the other competitors on total points.
Apart from points, what makes spectators want to watch a particular rider and sit with that rider's supporters, wearing the team colours? It might be the style of riding. Some riders are in such control of the bikes that they seem to go around a corner almost horizontally and actually push the ground with their hands or arms to propel the bike more upright.
What About Rain?
As we discussed this before my friends left Singapore, from my window I could see grey clouds foretelling rain.
I asked, "What if it rains?"
Rain Tyres
The riders have a second bike with rain tyres. Can anybody have rain tyres?
My relative was in Hong Kong on business and extended his stay. He hired a bike which had rain tyres to grip in the rain.
It costs you more to buy a second set of tyres for rain. You need somewhere to store them. Why not wear rain tyres all the time, as a member of the public? Not practical, I was told.
What about the racers? The same applies.
But they don't change the tyres. That wastes time. They change the bike. The rain tyres are on the second bike. They can afford a second bike at that level. The expensive bike. The cost of moving it and insuring it in transit. (But not unlimited numbers of bikes. Just one spare.)
The rain could stop. You might need to change back to the non-rain tyres.
Timing Is Critical
All the time the seconds are being logged, counted. Every little delay - means one person could win this race against a rival, or move up the league table, or break a record, their own previous best time, or a world record, or not break a record.
Stopping A Race
But if the track becomes a river, even the rain tyres won't grip and the race may have to be stopped. Who can stop the race?
The race might be stopped by the leader or favourite, by prior arrangement. When he signals, everybody pulls off.
You can also have marshalls who have a veto. They are in contact with each other.
Damaged Bikes
In a race, if a bike is damaged, you might use your second bike. If the second bike is damaged, the repair team have to literally work all night to have the bike ready for the next day.
Preview Of The Track
You can pay to view part of the track. You either walk across it or go around on wheels. You can be taken around as a pillion passenger on a scooter.
My Family's Memories
My relative has been at Shanghai and in the Malaysian programme race during the GP weekend practise sessions.
In his younger days a member of my family was in the MSS, the Malaysian Super Service, a support race. The riders use the same track, but the personalities are not world famous and do not appear on TV.
Ex-pats who were bike enthusiasts approached the Singapore authorities, the SMA, about car racing. In those days Singapore did not have a circuit to match the one in Malaysia.
However, the Malaysians were keen to have extra car racing days for the semi-professional having an hour or two's coaching by the big boys of the day.
The Malaysians had circuit open days and granted international race licenses. They sent a doctor down to Singapore. He gave all the hopefuls medicals, a blood pressure meter test, and so on.
The way the story is told, recalled, the doctor was very jolly, the whole occasion was very jolly. The doctor has his meter in one hand and beer beside the paperwork on the desk ready to drink and celebrate when he finished and passed everybody.
Thinking about it, as the Muslim Malays don't officially drink, possibly the doctor was a Chinese Malaysian, happy for a day out in Singapore. Or maybe the expats drank beer and in their embellished memories projected their celebration to include the kindly doctor. Think of it whichever way you like, if that brings a smile to your face.
Useful Websites
Singapore
visitsingapore.com
singaporeair.com (Singapore Airlines)
Malaysia
visit-Malaysia.com
malaysiatourism.gov.my
www.sepangcircuit.com
Australia
australia.com/en
www.lonelyplanet.com/australia
Japan
see_japan.co.uk
See previous post.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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