First off, I didnt take any pictures. Apologies for this but I really didnt have time. All images thanks to Google!!
Bought a ticket for the World Superbikes at Silverstone, through the Kawasaki Riders Club. It was only a race day ticket but came with Kawasaki hospitality
so set my alarm nice and early 5:30am and set off around 6am.
Headed down to Newport to join the M4 at Tredegar House and stayed on until Chepstow. I then came off at Chepstow and followed the A48 to Gloucester. I then joined the A40 through Cheltenham, to Oxford. Up to this point I think I'd seen barely 20 cars!! This was great as I was able to maintain a good pace without getting stuck behind anything!! I reached Oxford and followed the A34 to the M40 and then the A43 to Silverstone.
The roads from Oxford to Silverstone were pretty much dual carriageway all the way so a little boring but I had to be at the track for 8:30am for registration. The reason for this was that they were giving the oppportunity to test ride any Kawasaki on the Stowe circuit, but it was first come first served! So didnt want to miss out on riding a new ZX10!! However, my joy of arriving pretty much first in the queue was short lived when they said they wanted £500 deposit!!
I only took a bit of cash with me and left my card behind!! I was gutted, especially as I had got up so early! I was a bit miffed that they hadnt mentioned this before hand! Anyway, there was still the opportunity to ride my own bike on track or test ride a new model out on the road. I didnt want to risk binning my bike and having to walk home with a bag containing my beloved, so I opted for the road ride.
I spent pretty much all day wandering around the circuit looking for different viewing positions and only went back to the hospitality area a few times. Once for the road test ride, again for lunch (which was provided) and again to catch the Q&A with Tom Sykes (which I missed the becuase I was too busy watching the racing and didnt realise the time!!!). He was just leaving as I got there but said a quick hello. Chris Walker was also hanging around pretty much all day and riding out on the Stowe circuit! Again I missed much of this due to the racing!!
Anyway, I watched the second WSBK race and then got my gear on and made off around 4.30pm. I would've stayed for the final race, the Supersport 600, but had pre-arranged to meet up with a family member who lives about 20miles from the track and who I've not seen for many many years! I followed some great little B roads to get to where I was meeting her and finally arrived at the Boat Inn in Stockton.
This was a crackin little pub situated right next to a canal. It was really quiet, in the middle of nowhere almost. I was there about 20mins before my cousin arrived and could've easily had a little nap!! It was sunny and warm and the only noise came from the occasional chugging of a narrow boat passing by!
Anyway, had a good catch up with my cousin and left there around 6.30pm. I headed down to Southam, and the joined the Fosse Way. This was great road and although it was dead straight (pretty much) it is steeped in history so felt I had to ride it!! It passed through mostly farmland with the occasional little village. I made good time as there were plenty of overtaking opportunities. I follwed this to Moreton-In-Marsh, a stunning little 17th century market town, I wish I could have stopped.
I turned right at Moreton and headed for Evesham following the A44, another great bit of road! From Evesham I followed the A46 to Tewskbury and then the A38 to Gloucester. Again these were great roads and one stretch came down a mountain via a series of hairpins....great fun!!
From Gloucester it was back on the A40 for a few miles before turning on to the A4136 through the heart of the Forest of Dean, one of my now favourite stretches of road. I was losing light and was low on fuel, so stopped at the petrol station next to the tunnels in Monmouth. I changed my visor, fuelled up the bike, and myself, and headed off again along the B4233 to Abergavenny. Then it was down to Pontypool and back home to Caerfilthy. Got in about 9:45pm. Was knackered but had a really good day!
