A good nights sleep was had and we were excited again, initially for the fact we had no hangovers
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
secondly, for the ride, albeit only 23km, into Mugello and thirdly for the races. A small breakfast was served and gladly tucked away, bags packed and loaded onto the bikes and off we set
Mugello 09 0136 by
John Taylor, on Flickr
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John Taylor, on Flickr
The ride in was dry and warm but no sun and the forecast said a chance of rain for the afternoon, hey ho, it is what it is. First stop was at a supermarket for some food to take into the circuit, 2 reasons, one for cost after eating at the circuit yesterday and two, there was going to be a bumper crowd and it would save queuing to pay through the nose for standard race circuit fayre. I was stood outside the nearest supermarket to the famous Mugello and was suddenly aware that the picture on the fag machine outside was in actual fact an action shot of a BSB race at Donnington, we were over the moon and could not believe that
Mugello 09 0141 by
John Taylor, on Flickr
Mugello 09 0140 by
John Taylor, on Flickr
We made our way to the circuit which was obviously a lot busier than the day before but amazingly we could still ride our bikes into the circuit
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
We made our way around to the rear of the circuit and parked up where we could get pretty much lol and went and found a spot on the banking looking over the back of the pits with a large screen we could see and settled down for a long day.
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John Taylor, on Flickr
The banking got fuller as the crowd got bigger and the atmosphere was rising, all good natured and filled with excitement with horns blaring, when all of a sudden a two stroke engine fired up and was getting its neck rung to death. We were trying to see where and what it was but didn't expect to eventually see the guy with a chainsaw, bereft of its chain thank god, being lifted high up above is head and rev'd to high heaven, brilliant stuff and the crowd were well impressed
PRESS PHOTO FOR VIDEO
Mugello 09 0241 by
John Taylor, on Flickr
Mugello 09 0148 by
John Taylor, on Flickr
And so we came to the first race of the day, the 125's, which we were very interested in because our very own Bradley Smith had only got pole
![bounce :bounce:](./images/smilies/icon_bounce.gif)
We sat through 40 mins of tense racing to be greeted with a British win, fan-bloody-tactic and we stood and sang the national anthem when it was played over the loud tannoy system as the Union Jack was raised above the winners podium for everyone to see. What a very proud moment it was for us, never did we expect to be abroad and sing the national anthem at a MotoGP meeting, but we bloody did
250's were next and then the riders in the main event were formed on the grid............and they were off
PRESS PHOTO FOR VIDEO
Mugello 09 0242 by
John Taylor, on Flickr
the rain had arrived but it wasn't too bad to be honest and we never got wet and by midway in the race the rain had gone on its merry way and the race was finished in the dry. The race was a goodun' but to be honest it came second best to the weekend we were having and to Bradley's win. The sun came out as Stoner, Lorenzo and Rossi finished in that order and we were soon making our way to our bikes and out of the circuit gates with what seems like a million other people, as it always does when leaving a well attended event. Now my bike had been fine with no bother at all but I kept switching the engine off as we very slowly made our way in one crowd, towards the way out form the external of the circuit, with another crowd coming in the opposite direction and as with a lot of these events, there seems to be no organisation to get people away. So, with the sun now well and truly out again and the heat rising as we made our way up a slight hill at the side of the circuit I was start, stop, start, stop with my engine so my oil and air cooled engine didn't expire. We just got onto the flat part when the next time I thumbed the starter...........notihng, zilch, zero, nowt happened - FOOK. Luckily I could paddle my way, each time we could move, praying for there to be a set every twenty paces and thank god there was. We got past the last entrance and the road turns down a slight hill away from the track and this was my opportunity to bump start my girl.........she fired, I kept her going and we were soon away form the crowd and out onto the open road, heading north to get as far as possible that night before jumping into a hotel for the night. Well, it is safe to say, it was like a road race, for miles and miles, back road and motorway, it didn't matter, god I love the Italians
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
We stopped at a motorway service station atleast 110 miles from Mugello, for a quick snack out of Martins box which was left over from our 'pack out' lunch and some fuel and the place was rammed. The evening light was still good and so we pressed on. The traffic started to get lighter and we piled the miles on when before we knew it we had crossed the open border into Switzerland and with a quick look behind me and nod of the head we pulled off and followed the Sat Nav to the nearest hotel. It was a beaut, expensive, but hey, it was right there when we needed it and we pretty much had the underground parking to ourselves
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John Taylor, on Flickr
The twin room was lovely with dressing gowns, slippers and we even watched a bit of that days WSBK before we hit the bar and a well needed meal
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John Taylor, on Flickr
That was our last night away from the girls, for next day we would head north again and be back at my Uncles in Dolgesheim for late afternoon.
We had a lovely breakfast and headed off in the bright hot sunshine on our faithful steads. We would be all motorway until the last few miles and so settled into a rhythm and a decent speed while keeping our eyes peeled for 'rozzers'. We stopped at one service station with probably the most beautiful mountains scenery you could ever get from a service area
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John Taylor, on Flickr
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John Taylor, on Flickr
and had a brief chat to two German women, both on R1's, who had been away for a week touring in italy
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John Taylor, on Flickr
We got back on the motorway and were going past an absolutely beautiful scene, of which there were many on our trip but I just had to stop on the hard shoulder and take this before we got past it
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John Taylor, on Flickr
I remember Martin asking "What's up, has something broke" ? "No", said I, "I wanted to take a photo", his face even through his helmet opening was a picture
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
and soon as we were stopped, we were off again. One more petrol stop
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John Taylor, on Flickr
this time in Germany and then it was throttle to the stop on the unrestricted Autobahn, past Hockenheim and into Dolgesheim.
It was a fantastic trip and one that I will never forget along with My Mate Martin.