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Grand Prix of Japan 2025 is published!

Event review - 2024 Motul Grand Prix of Japan

Could there be a more perfect MotoGP weekend?!

Motegi is one of those super-reliable events that everyone loves. We sold out of packages months in advance, we use the same suppliers almost since 2006, and everything both in the tour, at the track and in Japan in general runs like clockwork!

Certainly the most exotic event of the year, just getting here and experiencing it is a major satisfaction!

Most of our guests arrived by Thursday and joined us in a very welcoming welcome drink at the hotel; after which we led a subset of guests to their 'hom away from home' for the weekend - the local Irish bar. (In fact there are now two we use!)

Friday at the track is always an eye-opener for those who have never visited this "MotoGP Disneyland" before. Grandstand guests took advantage of the perfect (maybe a bit hot!) weather to explore the circuit, the museum and the huge mall area. Our team guests hung out in the paddock, and took the opportunity to visit the service road for up close action!

The coach return hit substantial Friday rush hour traffic, but we got back in time for a 45 minute turnaround to our opening dinner -- an exhausting 2 minute walk from the hotel!

And what a dinner! Traditional Japanese feast style, shoes removed, sitting at low tables as about 10 different courses were served together with unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks. Pure delight!

However the highlight of the evning was an intimate chat with one of MotoGP's most veteran journalists, the Spaniard Manuel Pecino. In the paddock for some 34 years, there is little he doesn't know or see in the MotoGP world, and was unafraid to share with us. He could have spoken all night, however the restaurant had to close and we opted for a nightcap at the Irish... One of or truly best meals of the year, although...

Saturday was another brilliant day at the track. Several guests managed to get close to the Sprint podium. Bagnaia fighting to retake the championship lead puts in a sensational win, with our man Marc grabbing another podium.

It was a free event and people spread out in the city of Utsunomiya - with tons of restaurants and bars in very easy walking distance. Several of us opted to pick a random tiny restaurant in the huge restaurant arcade - enjoying a mixed Western/Japanese meal with service only a true language barrier can provide! We had good fun! And we might have closed at another Irish bar...

Sunday we encountered almost no traffic getting to the track (owing to our early departure), hitting the google prediction of 1:15 exactly. As in most Sundays it felt like we were back at the coach 30 minutes after we arrived!

However we were treated to some awesome racing -- starting with the nail-biting Asia Talent Cup which was won by less than a wheel... The moto3 race was a cracker, with David Alonso coming on top of a race-long cat and mouse game, both winning the race and the 2024 Moto3 world championship! We were privileged to see this. The Moto2 race was another thriller, with rain on and off, and gamples of tyres and setting by all riders. Our team Gresini's ace rider Manuel Gonzales took a sensation win from the pit lane, perfectly predicting the setup and charing the entire field to the front! We were also delighted with Czech rider Filip Salac taking his maiden podium with his team Marc VDS.

And then the MotoGP race... To be honest after a thrilling first half, it settled down to a parade; but with the perfect result of another Bagnaia victory over rival Martin, and again our man Marc took the third spot on the podium. There was also a good bye to Taaka Nakagami - his last home MotoGP race of his career.

We deliberately delay the coach departure for about 1.5 hours to experience the track invasion, the mall and the astounding Honda Collection Hall; I could have spent the entire day in there!

However the weekend was not over just yet! Returning to our base, we headed out to another fabulous meal. This time we are at a sensational teppanyaki restaurant - grilling meats & veg at the table, washed down with beer & wine and a super convivial atmosphere.

And of course, our final goodbye to the Irish was required....

After a final terrific breakfast at the hotel all the guests departed. I have to say, the public transport back to Tokyo Haneda (in my case) while slightly complicated was super efficient, taking me just over 2 hours going taxi->Shinkansen->Tokyo Metro-> Monorail to the airport terminal.

The quality of the transport I think reflects the quality of the event and the weekend experience overall. We will ALWAYS go back to Motegi! After 18 years (apart from 2 lost year to COVID!) we think we have this one wired!

See you in 2025!