What to do, what to expect, how to get organised if you are given a VIP Pass for one of the most beautiful Gp’s in the world: the San Marino race, aka Misano.
MOTOGP AND THE VIP VILLAGE
Reading these lines? I bet you will soon receive a VIP Pass for the MotoGP VIP Village. The VIP Village, which is deemed to be one of the best sports hospitalities worldwide, is the flagship of MotoGP corporate services. At the MIsano circuit, it is a high-end facility placed at the end of the main straight. From the standpoint of services, it also represents the most comprehensive and exclusive package of the Motorcycle Racing World Championship. Whether you are a motorcycle lover or merely a curious visitor, spending a couple of days at the most exciting show in the motor sports series is an incredible experience. Get ready for memorable days and follow the hints below to live your VIP village experience at best.
A RICH SCHEDULE
[sc_fs_faq sc_id=”fs_faqt07edmk6n” html=”false” headline=”p” img=”” question=”What is the MotoGP Vip Village?” img_alt=”” css_class=”” ]The MotoGP Vip Village is the most exclusive hospitality package of the MotoGP world championship. It includes excellent venues, food, and entertainment with paddock tours and pitlane walks.[/sc_fs_faq]The VIP Village is the best place to enjoy the show of MotoGP, and the backstage, and to relax in the comfort of a magical place. Curious to know what is out there waiting for you? Have a look at the very rich and event-filled day schedule, which is just one click away (link). The document in the link shows the on-track activity times and the schedule of events in the VIP Village. Some activities such as the paddock tour are flexible, whereas others are not, the pit lane walk for instance. We recommend that you arrive just in time for VIP Village opening at 8:30 a.m. to watch all on-track activities before the pit lane walk at 11:50 a.m. on Saturday and at 10:05 a.m. on Sunday. Check out the lunch times, as well. You will have the chance to taste the titbits of the chefs whenever you wish, but in time not to miss the MotoGP FP4 at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and the start of the major class at 2 p.m. on Sunday.ROARING ENGINES
MotoGP bikes are masterpieces of technology with a horse power potential up to 300 HP, meaning they can run as fast as 350 Km/h along a straight stretch of track. Their roaring engines are music to motor lovers, but the risk is that good music too may be annoying sooner or later. Although the rooms of the VIP Village are sound-proofed, we recommend that you do not overexpose your ears to the singing of the two-wheelers. If you have a pair of earplugs at hand, wear it and you will be saved a one-night-long headache. Protect you hearing and do not be afraid of looking like novices: riders, technicians, mechanics and engineers too constantly wear noise-cancelling headphones and plugs.
WEATHER
The recommendation below may read trivial, but it is very important. Motor sports are practised outdoors and they have eventually come to terms with the weather: if it is sunny, fine! And if it rains, never mind! The VIP Village is, of course, indoors and air conditioned (heated in winter and chilled in summer). However, activities such as the paddock tour and the pit lane walk take place outdoors and irrespective of the caprices of weather. Be aware that the pit lane walk, the paddock tour and any other side experiences will take place “come rain or shine” and, although you are free to decide whether to join them or not, you should remember that they will not be rescheduled.
SPECTATORS
Although the VIP Village is away from any other area in the circuit, you will on many occasions come across a feasting and noisy crowd, often dressed in yellow and quite picturesque clothes. They are part of the show and normally surprise visitors with flashy posters and goliardic expedients.
MEET THE RIDERS
While taking a stroll in the paddock or in the pit lane, you are likely to see riders of the MotoGP, Moto2 or Moto3 series. Keep your cameras and mobile phones at hand, but take it easy if some of the riders do not stop for an autograph or a selfie. Do not forget that the racing weekend is always a high distress time for the riders and their schedules are very strict.
YOUR VIP PASS
You will receive a pass for every day of the Grand Prix and the pass for Saturday (silver) will have a different colour from the pass for Sunday (gold). Store the pass with care: you may be asked to produce it at any time of day, so it must be kept in good condition and recognisable. No VIP pass transfer to others, no lending, no forgetting and no losing: as passes are issued in controlled and limited numbers, you will not be entitled to a new copy if you lose it. While you are staying in the facilities of the circuit, you should always keep the pass with you in a visible place and be ready to show it whenever you are requested to do so. Passes require electronic validation or checking by staff when you go in and out the different areas in the circuit. Service staff at the gates will in any case help you with this procedure. Remember not to go in/out the various areas without validating your pass.
Additionally, your pass only grants access to so-called and clearly identified “VIP areas” and to the associated facilities. It does not give access to areas such as the meadows or paddock, for instance. The types of passes entitling access to a specific area in the circuit will, in any case, be clearly specified on the posters and signs affixed at the entrance gate of that area. Personnel and staff around you will be ready to help you at all times. So, do not hesitate to ask them for any type of information and curiosity.
VIP VILLAGE DRESS CODE
No real dress code exists in the VIP Village. However, you should remember that you are in a sports context, albeit in a highly prestigious hospitality. We recommend smart casual clothing without excessive formalities: comfortable shoes and suitable clothes for the weather in June are suggested and ….. forget about a suit and tie! Although it is not a formal occasion, typical beach looks with shorts, flip-flops, sleeveless tops and similar clothing are to be avoided.
ACCESSORIES
The VIP Village offers any and all comforts you may wish. Despite this, any perfect traveller to the Motorcycle Racing World Championship should always keep some “tricks” in his/her luggage. This includes a portable battery charger for your camera or mobile, a pair of sunglasses for protection against the June sun, a folding umbrella against the weather caprices mentioned earlier, an indelible marker to record memorable meetings in the paddock, and a printout of the schedule of the free practice and qualifying sessions so that you are in the right place at the right time.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
The Misano World Circuit is nested in the heart of the Italian Motorvalley: Romagna. This iconic location is, however, served by a network of infrastructures that is far from north-European perfection. Despite this, around 150,000 people visit the area in the racing weekend, which suggests that Misano is a high-traffic place at all times, this being a self-evident truth nobody can possibly hide. If you wish to reach the racing circuit at a suitable enough time to watch the first free practice sessions, you must set your alarm clock with due and large advance without bothering to arrive too early: coffee and croissants at the VIP Village will be a good reward for your early wake-up.
What about your departure from the circuit? You have a choice here: either you leave a few laps before the end of the race – you may smile reading this lines now, but you will regret having disregarded the advice on Sunday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. – or you wait two or three hours comfortably sitting at the VIP Village in order to let high traffic flow away from the circuit. There is one thing you must avoid at all costs: to get in the car immediately after the end of the MotoGP race. Travel times may exceed 8 hours.
WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T DO IT
Last but not least, although it may sound banal, abstain from silly behaviours or fits of temper of any type whatsoever: as any communication materials suggest, motor sport is dangerous. Under no circumstances should you try and trespass protective netting, fences and gates, and throw any type of object on the track or in nearby areas. Even if you find open entrances or doors, do not step into areas where you are not admitted; do not use lighters and do not smoke cigarettes, including electronic cigarettes, where this is not allowed. Finally, remember that riders, technicians and mechanics often travel on scooters and electric bikes both in and out of the paddock: be cautious at all times.
Want to know more? Email us at info@rtrsports.com
