15th - 17th November 2024

Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona - Event recap

The replacement event for stricken Valencia.


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Event review - Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona

Tragedy struck our beloved Valencia as the city was flooded in once in a lifetime waters.

Less than a week before the grand finale of the 2024 MotoGP season, Dorna made the decision to cancel Valencia and re-host the event at Catalunya for the same weekend. We applaud the bold decision, which included dedicating the event to Valencia and raising money to support the stricken city.

Much work ensued as we needed to move some 45 rooms, 70 people, transport, tickets and the rest from Valencia to Barcelona in a little over a week once we returned from Malaysia. We were delighted tht 90% of our package guests decided to make the move. We offered transport for anyone who was still flying into Valencia; and we shifted our charity recipient of our traditional Friday night auction to the city of Valencia.

We were fortunate enough to find a hotel in Barcelona who could accommodate us at short notice, and take advantage of our deep roots in Catalunya to organise transport and tickets at short notice.

Thursday we welcomed many guests with our traditional happy hour. This was a new area of Barcelona for us, a more residential area. This meant that the nearby bars and restaurants were more geared to local population - that is less expensive, non-touristy and authentic!

Friday is was up to the track and back. Many of our team guests joined a special backstage tour of the company which does the graphics and painting inside the paddock - Alex Design. Gresini guests got a visit to the garage and the stunning service road during several sessions.

In the evening we had our opening dinner. We invited two of our sponsored American riders to join us: Kristian Daniel Jr and Sean Dylan Kelly. A discussion of the future for American riders ensued, with the help of our two super experienced moto journalists Simon Patterson from Ireland and Manuel Pecino from Spain. We had a charity auction of unique merchandise, raising some €1200 for Valencia.

Saturday was the thrilling print race. At this point Jorge Martin could have wrapped up the championship, how Pecco Bagnaia saw off the threat by winning the race.

in the evening, many of the team guests joined us for a special talk from Manuel at MLav Moto3. Dinner with respective teams, LCR Honda, Gresini and MLav followed, as well as a wander through the after-hours paddock bumping into team members and riders. In town, several guests joined us for a personal guided tapas tour in Barcelona. Bravo!

Finally the climax of the weekend and the MotoGP season Sunday! Francesco Bagnaia did all that was asked of him, and won the race, but this wasn't sufficient to stop Jorge Martin from taking 3rd place and the World Championship!

Several of our team guests joined the celebration at the podium! We also saw the retiral of Aleix Espargaro & Taaka Nagagami from MotoGP.

We wrapped up the weekend and the year with a brilliant dinner in a local tapas bar with free flowing beer, wine and sangria! We may have hit a local bar on the way home...!

We must say what an amazing job by Dorna, the teams and all involved in MotoGP to get the event moved. And very special recognition to Valencia and especially our partner hotels and the circuit for working with us to get the event moved, agreeing to refunds and generally facilitating the move.

We can't wait to return to Valencia next year! Our best wishes are with them!


 

Picture gallery - Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona

See our photos of the event on Flickr here Or check out ALL of our past event galleries here
Welcome to Barcelona Karolina and Gordon prepare the event Hotel Ilunion Much needed local beer! Hotel Ilunion valencia-catalunya-105 valencia-catalunya-106 valencia-catalunya-107 valencia-catalunya-108 valencia-catalunya-109 Thursday happy hour Thursday happy hour Thursday happy hour Thursday happy hour Who valencia-catalunya-115 valencia-catalunya-116 valencia-catalunya-117 valencia-catalunya-118 LCR Honda garage visit LCR Honda garage visit valencia-catalunya-121 valencia-catalunya-122 Scott Ogden Eddie O Tour of Alex Design Tour of Alex Design Tour of Alex Design Tour of Alex Design Tour of Alex Design Tour of Alex Design Tour of Alex Design valencia-catalunya-132 valencia-catalunya-133 Sete Gibernau signs our "We Love Valencia" cap Auction items from Brad Binder Auction items from Brad Binder valencia-catalunya-137 valencia-catalunya-139 valencia-catalunya-138 Charity auction at track Friday opening dinner Friday opening dinner Friday opening dinner Friday opening dinner Friday opening dinner Friday opening dinner Manuel Pecino Friday opening dinner Friday opening dinner Our coach (and a late comer!) valencia-catalunya-151 valencia-catalunya-152 valencia-catalunya-153 valencia-catalunya-154 valencia-catalunya-155 valencia-catalunya-156 valencia-catalunya-157 valencia-catalunya-158 valencia-catalunya-160 valencia-catalunya-159 valencia-catalunya-161 valencia-catalunya-162 valencia-catalunya-163 valencia-catalunya-164 Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night Saturday MotoGP night valencia-catalunya-175 valencia-catalunya-176 valencia-catalunya-177 valencia-catalunya-178 valencia-catalunya-179 MLav final race MLav final race MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid MotoGP Grid Team Gresini Ducati Team Gresini Ducati Team Gresini Ducati Team Gresini Ducati Team Gresini Ducati Team Gresini Ducati Service road view Service road view Service road view Service road view Service road view Service road view Service road view MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium MotoGP Podium British actor Danny John-Jules and Steve Keys Brad Binder LCR Honda says goodbye to Taaka Nakagami LCR Honda says goodbye to Taaka Nakagami A number of guests pose with our One of our rare 2015 Closing dinner Closing dinner Closing dinner Closing dinner Closing dinner Closing dinner Closing dinner