Tedx wrote:Given that there are flights from Inverness to Amsterdam, Im toying with the idea of the Dutch TT Hotel (no camping for me!) and circuit package - possibly with an upgrade to some sort of VIP/Premium access.
There are a lot of operators out there offering this kind of thing!
I think I recall a discussion on here about this kind of thing (perhaps it was F1?). Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations?
TIA
How deep are your pockets? The only things that matter in MotoGP are money and rider talent, probably in that order. Arriving at the paddock in a smart jacket and a nice car gets you noticed and remembered a lot more than we probably warranted
There are different levels of VIP - the MotoGP VIP packages get you into a nice 'village' to watch but paddock access is restricted to an organised tour with many of them.
Hotels near the circuit book up as soon as the dates are announced.
We used to do a lot of hospitality packages, to the point where riders/teams/paddock staff would say recognise us and nod when they saw us away from the circuit. The best (and first) was direct with Racing Team Germany. Going back about a decade and it was 1000 euro each, ticket from Thurs to Sun, meals in the hospitality (all meals if wanted), paddock pass, we also got a pitlane pass as they had a garage so watched from the pitwall, a circuit walk, and a paddock bike to go around the service road. And unlimited garage access.
The following year we went with Pole Position - you get a paddock pass and lunch on their basic 'moto3' package and a garage visit/tour. It was about 550E each back then, When we said what we'd got the previous year there were some eyebrows raised, especially about letting random punters loose on stepthroughs around the service road and even they didn't get pitwall permits.
https://www.polepositiontravel.com/moto ... 24/tickets You do get minibus transport in and out which saves a lot of faff, and they have group guides which is great for a first visit.
After that we got team and rider details and just did a 'sponsorship deal' with one rider or team for several events per year. Sometimes it included lunch, sometimes not depending on whether the team had their own hospitality. You are not allowed to simply sell paddock passes, so this was the route chosen, although oddly they preferred payment in cash. We also got Test passes so we could wander into the paddock at the test days, and the all important P2 paddock parking. This is great for getting into the circuit (Silverstone excepted) as most places have their own access route. Of course parking inside the circuit means you ain't getting out quick though. Consequently we used to loiter in often helped tidy away the tables and chairs etc in the hospitality units so long as they left the telly on for the Rookies. Met some interesting people, got some interesting gossip
For something more akin to the entry level Pole Position offer you would do worse than approach Alain Bronec at CIP Moto3. A very straighforwards guy, and they advertise packages on
https://www.cipmoto.com/paddockexperience/ You'll need to enquire about options and cost, and itmght not be cheaper than PPT, but the money goes to the team and not middlemen. At the Jerez test, we'd been introduced to Alain as 'one of my personal sponsors' by one of his riders. His ears pricked up at the mention of 'sponsor', but of course no figures were ever mentioned and he still wondered who these interlopers were. Very unusual for a test day they had new catering trucks and were training staff, so there was a hospitality unit. We were invited in for coffee and when the catering manager saw us, he rushed over and shook our hands and hugged MrsF, whilst completely ignoring the team personnel. The look on Alain's face was priceless, I just shrugged and said "always make friends with the people preparing your food". Since then he's always come over and found a couple of minutes to chat if he sees us at a circuit.
If you are thinking of Silverstone, then Day of Champions is on the Thurs. As of last week tickets were still available, and their paddock ticket (about £65) includes a 3 hour window where you can go into the paddock and get a feel for it. It is very busy, but things are more relaxed on a Thursday and the riders have little to do so you will see a lot more of them. On a race weekend the GP riders particularly go from pit to motorhome like getting The Beatles from a gig to the car. We often just drive down fo the Thurs then come home again.
Paul