Is Silverstone worth going to?

Is Silverstone worth going to?

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Discussion

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,059 posts

122 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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As in the title, the Mrs and I have had a last minute thought to go to the Moto GP.

Is it worth it? Which is the best stand to choose?

My experiences of spectating at bike racing is limited to the BSB at Knockhill so will I be thrilled or disappointed?

My fear is the track being so far away from your viewing point.

Abdul Abulbul Amir

13,179 posts

218 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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It isn't the best track to view from, not because of the distance to the track but because you can only see small sections.

Woodcote A is my favourite.

Freakuk

3,385 posts

157 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Personally I think it's probably the worst UK track to spectate from. It's a huge track with lots of grandstands so you can only view a very small strip of tarmac and the rest of the track is obscured by grandstands/buildings. Plus you are quite a distance from the track at certain points.

MotoGP is only around 20 laps at SS, obviously the noise is incredible but you only get to see the bikes for 5-10 seconds a lap for 20 laps.

If you have never been to watch a grand prix though I would say go, just for the noise if nothing else.

Good track to hoon around though!

airsafari87

2,812 posts

188 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Drawweight said:
As in the title, the Mrs and I have had a last minute thought to go to the Moto GP.

Is it worth it? Which is the best stand to choose?

My experiences of spectating at bike racing is limited to the BSB at Knockhill so will I be thrilled or disappointed?

My fear is the track being so far away from your viewing point.
You will feel too far away from the track if you’re used to the likes of Knockhill.

BUT …

It’s MotoGP man, being at the race and feeling like you’re too far away from the track is far better than not being there at all and not getting to experience MotoGP.

So get some tickets booked you tight Scottish …………

biggrin



LukeBrown66

4,479 posts

52 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Be aware that if you are driving they charge a fair bit for parking and it escalates over the days, as does park and ride, so it can add a fair bit to the ticket price

Also be aware that some bits of the track are inaccessible due to the building work going on at Maggots.

Plus you are miles from the action in many places, I don't know about grandstands but they often offer roving tickets for the the first two days and then placed on Sunday I think?

I would also think if you canvassed opinion it is probably the worst track to view from in teh UK, miles away, flat and featureless, expensive, lots of walking about if you have GA.

But if you want to see the GP bikes it's your only chance.

dibblecorse

6,943 posts

198 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Has all been said really, you end up watching more of it on the big screens than live, its an experience, don't get me wrong but its nothing like BSB at Brands Hatch for instance ...

As a box to tick, get on with it, its a special atmosphere but you won't get knocked sideways by the racing you see live.

FredericRobinson

3,892 posts

238 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Too late for this year, but I’d say WSBK at Donington is twice the fun for half the price, BSB at Cadwell even more so, but the camping’s all gone now.
I do all three, but Silverstone would be the first to go if I had to lose one.

Rob 131 Sport

3,014 posts

58 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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I last went in 2019 prior to COVID and notice that attendance appeared to be down on previous years. I think then with Cal Crutchlow about to retire the ‘Cal’ effect had substantially diminished.

Whilst I prefer Donington as a venue if we don’t support our home GP by attending, I would imagine there is a risk of it disappearing.

Skin981

80 posts

46 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Save your money and go to Valencia for the last race of the season it’s got fantastic viewing and awesome atmosphere

dibblecorse

6,943 posts

198 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
Skin981 said:
Save your money and go to Valencia for the last race of the season it’s got fantastic viewing and awesome atmosphere
its a bit more involved and expensive than a day out at Silverstone though !!!

And the viewing of not in a grandstand at Valencia isn't loads better than Silverstone, and yes, I have been to both. Atmosphere is goos if theres anything left to decide.

Rob 131 Sport

3,014 posts

58 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Like I said in an earlier post. We need to support our home GP.

Skin981

80 posts

46 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Depends if you like getting ripped off rolleyes

Freakuk

3,385 posts

157 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Rob 131 Sport said:
Like I said in an earlier post. We need to support our home GP.
Why though, it's crap compared to any other round I've been to in every way.

Rob 131 Sport

3,014 posts

58 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
Freakuk said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
Like I said in an earlier post. We need to support our home GP.
Why though, it's crap compared to any other round I've been to in every way.
So where else have you been to watch Moto GP

stang65

391 posts

143 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Drawweight said:
As in the title, the Mrs and I have had a last minute thought to go to the Moto GP.

Is it worth it? Which is the best stand to choose?
Yes, it's worth it. Where else in the UK can you see MotoGP. It's a spectacle. I really enjoyed it and ticked it off the list. Would I go again? Maybe not...but only becuase it's been ticked off the list, so I'd recommend it to you.

Best stand is anything with a roof on the start finish straight. You want the full effect of the spectacle of 20-odd MotoGP bikes going full throttle together, so other places just don't do it. Make sure the stand has a roof. The weather is rarely "normal" at Silverstone. The year I went to MotoGP it rained and even though it was August we were frozen (we were wearing fleeces and full textile bike gear with thermal liners and our gloves, neckwarmers etc., and only our lids were off...but it wasn't enough!). The year I went to F1 (not a fan but ticked it off the list!) we didn't have a covered stand and it was mentally hot - major dehydration and burnt to a crisp! So any stand on the start finish with a roof....if they tell you where they are get a view of the screens so you can watch the race.

Don't stress whether it's the best track to watch from, how close you can get to the track etc. Just go, enjoy yourself and tick it off the list. Motor sport isn't getting more of a spectacle, hybrid powertrains, regenative braking etc. are dumbing down the show even though they add performance. Go see MotoGP before those things get to bikes.

egor110

17,246 posts

209 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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dibblecorse said:
Has all been said really, you end up watching more of it on the big screens than live, its an experience, don't get me wrong but its nothing like BSB at Brands Hatch for instance ...

As a box to tick, get on with it, its a special atmosphere but you won't get knocked sideways by the racing you see live.
Inside of druids is great , where else can you get to near you can hear the knee sliders scraping ?

egor110

17,246 posts

209 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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O/P if you can go the day of champions on weds , pay a fee can get to wander around the pits for the afternoon.

stevemcs

8,940 posts

99 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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We are going again this year, I’m not a fan of silverstone as a circuit but there is plenty of space and lots of grandstands when compared to Donnington. No you cannot get as close to the bikes as Donnington but it’s moto gp and although it’s not cheap it’s much cheaper than F1

We always go to village A, you get to see the bikes a lot more, you can just see them come down hanger towards Stowe, then through village and if you sit high up or at the end you can see them go down the wellington straight.

We camp at woodlands.





We were at Donnington last week for wsbk and there was very little shade, although you can get around the infield very quickly, everything at silverstone seems like an hour

nismo48

4,244 posts

213 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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+1 Agree, Silverstone ok, but Brands Hatch more of a spectacle smile

dibblecorse said:
Has all been said really, you end up watching more of it on the big screens than live, its an experience, don't get me wrong but its nothing like BSB at Brands Hatch for instance ...

As a box to tick, get on with it, its a special atmosphere but you won't get knocked sideways by the racing you see live.

LukeBrown66

4,479 posts

52 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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I would agree with supporting the home race if it were not massively overpriced to cover for ridiculous hosting fees.

I went to Donington for about 7 years in a row and once you have been there really is little other reason to go again, it is dear, queues, expensive everything, when you can watch it for free at home.

the atmosphere is not that amazing unless you crave that sort of thing, I have been to F1 also and would say the same, but have not touched that overpriced rot for 30 odd years!