Saturday 22 September 2007. Day 33:Utsonomiya, Motegi GP

Up early for breakfast – not as good as yesterday and tinned fruit, not fresh.

Picked up car and off to Motegi. Got there in good time but hindered getting parked due to the ridiculous beaurocratic & crazy parking system, whereby cars are parked in rows in the field, and we enter the field at the empty end, expecting to be directed straight into a space nearby. Instead, we are told to go down the first full row of parking, come back up the 2nd full row of parking, back down the 3rd, up the 4th etc etc, which took ages given that hundreds of cars were trying to park, and some cars hadn’t left much room to get past, meaning that at least once all the cars had to do a 3 point turn to get round a tight corner, until eventually, we came to rest in a space pretty much opposite the entrance we came in, but about 8 rows back, and having clocked up 10km on the speedo!

We were required to park in the exact space that had been measured out and marked with wire taped to the floor by the traffic people, who’s usual job was to stand still near a section of perfectly functioning traffic, and wave their orange baton vigorously around on a continuous basis, shouting and gesticulating if anyone should dare to cut a corner to go the wrong way.

Eventually got to the track and went straight to the paddock to try and get some autographs. Waited ages for Dani Pedrosa in the sweltering heat along with throngs of others, missing him the first time he came out, but catching him as he later came out of him cabin and getting 2 programmes successfully signed. Lou thought he gave her a funny look when signing her programme and thought he was just a bit odd, until she later realised she had asked him to sign his rival – Nicky Hayden’s picture! Ieuan got a few others, including Mick Doohan and Bradley Smith, plus had a little chat with Bradley.

Waited for Nicky Hayden for a good hour since he said he would be out soon, but then gave up when they took food and DVD’s in to him, and went to watch the afternoon racing. Bought some more Esso drops plus some cheap binoculars, and headed home via the internet café. Stocked up on fruit at the supermarket, ate at the hotel again (including a shot of 17 year old Nikka Taketsuru Japanese whisky for Ieuan), and packed our bags for leaving tomorrow.