Catalan MotoGP: Watching it from the Aprilia Garage

What is it about motorcycle racing that is so thrilling? What kind of lunatics get a kick out of risking their lives going around in circles just to be the fastest racer in the world – a title that will probably remain with him just for a year. These are emotions that the riders themselves find difficult to express in words, let alone capturing it on camera to bring that live feed on your television. In fact, there’s barely a chance to experience the emotive side of motorcycle racing unless you’re out there at the racetrack, in the paddock. 

I’ve heard tales from colleagues who’ve seen the action live. So I had to do it myself. And I got the opportunity courtesy Aprilia Racing, who decided to take us to Spain to witness the 2016 Catalan GP from their own pit garage! As I stepped into the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the first thought to come to my mind was that TV crews barely get time to breathe on race weekends, trying to offer us the best live feeds, while we sit thousands of miles away, ensconced in the luxury of our homes watching the action unfold on television.

But, this is the ultimate dream come true for any biker – to be present in the paddock on a MotoGP race weekend. But, much to my horror, the 2016 Catalan GP was also marred by the death of Luis Salom, who had lost his life on Friday during the Moto2 practice sessions.

The atmosphere was sombre and it was only after the Salom family came forward and announced that despite their loss they wanted the racing to go on as scheduled, that the sessions were resumed. We were quick to dart off to the Aprilia pit garage to get up, close and personal with the Aprilia Racing riders Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl, and of course ogle at their race bikes, the Aprilia RS-GP. I also realised that unlike the setup for F1, the setup of a MotoGP pit garage is a lot smaller and hence more cramped. 

The ever accommodating Aprilia Racing team welcomed us though, rather than shoo us away into a corner. Marc Marquez took pole position for the Honda Racing Team, with Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo and Marquez’s team mate Dani Pedrosa in second and third place on the grid respectively. Disappointingly for us and the Aprilia team, Bautista and Bradl didn’t have the kind of qualifying they would have hoped for as Bradl secured 13th place on the grid while Bautista was forced to start at the back after he crashed out of qualifying. 

The next day, activity peaked in the Aprilia garage as soon the Moto2 race got over, and the riders got into their leathers and helmet, waiting to be signalled to go out. As the engines revved, the entire pit lane reverberated with a sound so raw that it gave us shivers. Lorenzo was off to a great start, so was Marquez; while, much to the disappointment of a grand stand full of his fans, Rossi lost a few places at the start. Bautista meanwhile had a decent start and managed to gain a few places in the very first lap. 

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An intense battle for the top spot ensued with Marquez right at Rossi’s tail. The veteran rider retained his place until the chequered flag with local lads Marquez and Pedrosa taking the second and third. The Aprilia team also managed an impressive result with Bautista finishing in eighth place after starting from the back of the grid. Bradl too brought home some points for the team with his 12th place. Aprilia came back into MotoGP only last year, and are still adapting their race machine to the current MotoGP regulations, but the team is confident of both its riders challenging the fore runners like Honda, Yamaha and Ducati soon. That said, Aprilia has been one of the most successful manufacturers in the World Superbike Championship in recent times, and the experience gained there should certainly help them in MotoGP too. Of course, it was a learning experience for me as well. 

Spending a weekend watching the race from the Aprilia box helped us get a closer picture of how intense the sport is. The fact that each of these riders were going flat out on the track, just a day after a tragic accident speaks volumes about their commitment. And then there’s the hunger for speed, the struggle and hard work that goes in shaving milliseconds with each lap. Truly, the dedication of the teams and the courage of the riders is unparalleled.