InvictaMoto's Red Pepé Blog

Moto2 was the first of a Marquez brothers benefit day.  British interest was minimal with Jake Dixon on the Angel Nieto team Triumph. In the end there was a three Spanish rider podium. I was down behind the VR46 grandstand at the end of the start/finish, queuing for the chance too pee up a wall in the official pissoir, when Marquez was on the podium. Suddenly loads of them in the grandstand starting booing and stamping their feet. Not very sporting. Back in position and before the MotoGP race there were speeches (in French) and then La Marseillaise. Hardly a whisper from the French. WTF? Tune into a rugby international and especially in Paris the French blow the roof off the stadium with their singing! Our interest was in Cal Crutchlow who had qualified 15th. And a second choice of Jack Miller from Australia. And of course Valentino. In the end Miller briefly took the lead in front of us before   Mark Marquez cleared off. Jack eventually dropping ...

As usual the Shuttle was late leaving the UK end. Only 40 minutes so not long. Quiet if long no toll ride down. Made longer by blanket 80km speed limit outside towns. And innumerable roadworks and long detours or deviations as our French friends call them. Does that make us deviants!? Neill led us up what looked like a farm track and back again when Wailly Beaucamp had the high street dug up. The detour seemed about 10 miles to cover 1 mile of work. The wonders of France. PS, no bugger working though.  First stop in the Rouen ring at a McD for WiFi and lunch. Second stop for petrol. With the low speed limits Pepé managed 181.3 miles with loads to spare in the tank. Averaging over 46mpg. Neill's BMW 1600 was even  better. Just short of Alençon we stopped in "biker rest" stop organised by the local FFMC group. Free coffee etc but donations accepted.  And then to the hotel. We were later than anticipated but have room 6. Not very big but will do as ...