Motorsport
A magical weekend at Silverstone: exclusivity, excitement and huge action! What can you experience as a fan or journalist at a MotoGP race?
Phenomenal action! The MotoGP race weekend offers much more than a “mere” race. First of all, it is associated with a truly great exclusivity, and there are also many activities on site for the fans themselves. And thanks to our partnership with Monster Energy, we were able to be there. So what can you experience during this magical race weekend?
Phenomenal action! The MotoGP race weekend offers much more than a “mere” race. First of all, it is associated with a truly great exclusivity, and there are also many activities on site for the fans themselves. And thanks to our partnership with Monster Energy, we were able to be there. So what can you experience during this magical race weekend?
Exclusivity, premium action or being at the heart of the action – that’s a safe way to interpret the MotoGP race weekend at Silverstone. We’ve partnered with Monster Energy for the twelfth round of this year’s MotoGP season, the British Grand Prix.
On motorsport in general guarantees fans a weekend of fun and it doesn’t have to be just about the racing itself. But if we are talking about the MotoGP series, Monster Energy (the main organiser of the race, Monster Energy British GP – ed.) has other activities for fans of the sport besides the sport itself. In fact, on the race weekend, you can also visit other events after practice or qualifying.
Whether it’s a BMX show, various concerts, activities in the fan villages, many refreshment stands or the opportunity to buy fan merchandise in the official shops of your favourite teams – in short, it’s an event you will undoubtedly enjoy.
Personally, I would like to bring you, our readers, the view of the editor, or journalist himself. So, what can a person who enters not only Silverstone, but also other circuits on the MotoGP calendar as part of the media accreditation experience and what is actually waiting for him?
One would think that attending a race weekend under accreditation would really only involve watching practice, qualifying, and even the race from a specific location, doing some sort of reportage, and then spending the rest of the day locked in an office or running errands around the paddock or the track itself. But the schedule is packed, and in a really incredible way.
Home
On behalf of our motorsport section of the editorial team, I can tell you, our readers, with a clear conscience that we always try to bring you the most important news, which was undoubtedly the announcement of the new F1 technical regulations by the FIA.
And that’s whether it’s from the world of F1, MotoGP or WRC. However, we also regularly bring you various reports, analyses or commentaries, or articles that document the historical context of the teams themselves, and the career biographies of the drivers.
And the following lines will be based on the same principle. From recent experience, I will try to provide you with background information on what the Grand Prix itself is like, or how the accreditation processing actually works, and many other interesting topics. This is also something that motorsport fans in general often ask about.
Monster Energy & Ruik
Before that, however, it is fitting to start by thanking our partner Monster Energy for this amazing opportunity. This is because it allowed us to take a detailed look behind the scenes of MotoGP and to develop a kind of personal insight.
But in addition to thanking us, it’s important to mention the name of this famous brand for another reason. Personally, I have no idea how or what reporters from other sites or TV stations have secured, or on what basis other sports websites cooperate with various partners.
I, however, was provided with practically everything by Monster Energy – from the accreditation itself, through air travel or personal transfers, to catering and accommodation.
And how does the accreditation actually work?
As I wrote above, I personally had the accreditation provided by our partner and I imagine that other media companies have similar arrangements.
However, this application had one specificity. This is of course because the UK is no longer in the European Union or a member of the Schengen area. Thus, in order for the accreditation to be successful, the passport number, company details and basic personal information such as date of birth had to be provided.
Of course, this process also has a deadline. For the MotoGP British Grand Prix, the accreditation window closed three weeks before the actual start of the race weekend, on Friday 15 July. The twelfth round of the season then kicked off on Thursday 4 August.
To be allowed entry then, documentation of having had a Covid-19 illness or having had a vaccination cannot be missed in the online portal. However, thanks to the summer months, this was not as much of an administrative hassle as, for example, the months when coronavirus and diseases in general thrive.
However, this accreditation provides you with a number of exclusives. Access to the paddock, the media centre, the race circuit itself before the race weekend starts, to interview drivers or to various VIP areas. Last but not least, you also become part of a great family, a feeling that is intensified when you visit the Italian family business called Severino.
Severino Hospitality
An Italian family business, a very famous and well-known restaurant in the MotoGP paddock. It is this group of people who have been catering since the early 90s. It is also interesting to note that this company has a very warm relationship with Valentino Rossi and the Yamaha team.
So, as part of your paddock pass, you can have lunch with Severino Hospitality. Almost everyone involved in MotoGP eats here.
Team engineers, riders, mechanics, journalists, representatives of partners (such as Monster Energy) and photographers. It is no wonder that this restaurant also serves as one of the meeting points. A very pleasant experience, and if you ever have the chance, don’t hesitate to try a real Italian coffee.
However,Severino is a reflection of hard work, dedication, love for MotoGP and also the desire to always bring the best to all paddock members. The story of the founding of this Italian company is then one of the biggest and most moving in the whole MotoGP environment.
Track walk
An absolutely amazing affair. There is an opportunity for media representatives to walk the track on Thursday, and therefore before the race weekend begins.
For journalists in general, this is a really great experience. We can see for ourselves how the TV coverage or on-board footage distorts different sections of the circuit at certain times.
For example, the Copse corner, where Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton clashed last year, is even sharper in real life than it is on TV. The eye of the motorsport fan will then be delighted by the vivid view of the Maggots and Becketts corner section.
Pit Lane Walk
Another very rewarding experience indeed. As part of your accreditation permit, you can also visit the pit lane. In MotoGP, however, the fans themselves also have this opportunity. Mostly on Thursday, though, when most teams have their machines in the open garages.
But you can still see your favourite teams live as they work on their bikes for the rest of the race weekend. For example, at this year’s race at the Red Bull Ring, however, only full weekend pass holders can visit the Pit Lane, with the Pit Walk traditionally taking place on Thursday.
Members of the media have an even more exclusive look into the teams’ backgrounds. This is because the teams are preparing their bikes for qualifying on Saturday and I got a proper close-up look at these stunning machines. The hostesses of the teams add to the beauty of the event.
In the close proximity of the pit lane, and therefore at the exit of the Media Center, we also watched the free practice or Saturday qualifying.
Support Race Grid Experience
One of the best parts of the whole race weekend, but this time thanks to the VIP voucher, not the accreditation. We were part of the British Talent Cup starting grid at the famous British circuit. Needless to say, the experience was valuable and beyond words.
The toughest working day – Thursday
The most challenging working day at Silverstone was Thursday. After arriving at the circuit in the morning and having lunch at Severino Hospitality, our group of journalists had a very clear agenda. This is when we interviewed the drivers. You’ve read three interviews on our website so far since then. Fabio Quartararo, Joan Miró and Luca Marini.
On our Facebook and Instagram profiles, we have also published a part of the interview where Mir greets Czech MotoGP fans via video and describes his relationship with the Brno race circuit. And then also a funny part of the interview where the Suzuki rider answers a not-so-clever question.
After the interviews we had a tour of the circuit, which was another challenging but enjoyable program. In the evening, there was nothing left to do but to process the collected materials to bring you completely exclusive content.
Kart racing
In addition to work-related matters, Monster Energy also prepared various fun “events”, such as the kart race. And I have to admit, I had absolutely no experience with go-karts until then. And that’s what it looked like.
Nevertheless, despite the not so dazzling performance, it was an interesting experience. We tried out the Daytona karting circuit in Milton Keynes, which is described as one of the best in the UK. It’s also where motorsport stars such as Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard and Nico Rosberg have raced.
In the video below, you can see from the onboard footage just how fast and technically demanding this circuit is.
VIP Village
Along with Brooklands a very exclusive area for MotoGP and Monster Energy respectively. VIP Village, however, was a much larger venue compared to Brooklands, where you could see several other activities.
In fact, it was here that I was able to try out the MotoGP simulator for the first time in my life, and get a feel for how difficult a position professional riders are in when pushing their bike into a 60-degree corner. Something really incredible. Additionally, Franco Morbidelli dropped by the VIP Village after Saturday’s qualifying and I had another chance to have a few words with him in addition to the interview.
And a little bit from a marketing point of view – the VIP Village, Severino and Brooklands offered the perfect opportunity to make new contacts and last but not least I am grateful for the chance to talk to journalists from foreign media or other interesting people from the MotoGP environment.
Brooklands
Probably the last standout moment in what was otherwise a series of experiences that would undoubtedly leave any motorsport fan absolutely ecstatic was Sunday’s visit to the very premium Silverstone circuit. Namely an area, or rather a building called Brooklands.
This is where all the major companies, including Monster Energy, had their VIP facilities. And it was also from here that my Hungarian colleague Péter ( Motorsport Portal) and I watched the MotoGP British Grand Prix. Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia dominated this one after a great fight.
You can see what it looked like at Brooklands in the attached twitter post below.
Finally…
What to add? In short, this spectacular event offered, in addition to the above mentioned experiences, quite a few funny stories that any MotoGP fan would love to tell his friends and family.
To give you an example, I personally had a very close encounter with the reigning champion Quartarare when he missed me by just a few centimetres on his scooter in the paddock.
Now I can confirm the words of former Czech MotoGP rider Karel Abraham that not only Quartararo but also the other riders are very friendly and often funny. And after all the experience, great experiences and conversations with very nice people, I am looking forward to a potential next MotoGP Grand Prix.
Sources: Monster Energy, MotoGP
