Sachsenring MotoGP 2019
Discussion
Went in 2016 with zero prep as I just googled "where is Sachsenring" while finishing watching previous GP, then booked Eurotunnel while announcing to the wife she needed to pack for the weekend after next.
Accommodation was a bit tricky being 10 days before the event but snuck in somewhere 20 mile away on booking.com - I'm normally a just turn up and ask whether any space sort of chap but being where it is they aren't overloaded with hotels. It's in a very uncrowded area and the derestricted Autobahns actually mean that unlike further West where it's too crowded. Wifey's little DS-3 spent literally hours on it's top speed restrictor.
Parked where I was told (free - on a wet field) and walked 20 mins down into the valley with the hordes chanting and carrying their huge flags. Just paid for normal entry rather than a grandstand. Whole thing seems to be built around a huge hill with an inconceivable amount of left hand corners so you get a good view of that corner and not the next because it's behind you. Scramble up to the top of the hill where it's been levelled off for the beer tankers and sausage sellers. Difficult to get an idea of the whole circuit when stood in the middle.
When I went Marquez fell off in warm up right in front of us and such was the violence of the crash I was surprised to see him out on the grid for the race. He murdered every one in the race after changing to slicks on a 6 inch wide dry line and Cal finished 3rd.
Great atmosphere even in the rain.
Accommodation was a bit tricky being 10 days before the event but snuck in somewhere 20 mile away on booking.com - I'm normally a just turn up and ask whether any space sort of chap but being where it is they aren't overloaded with hotels. It's in a very uncrowded area and the derestricted Autobahns actually mean that unlike further West where it's too crowded. Wifey's little DS-3 spent literally hours on it's top speed restrictor.
Parked where I was told (free - on a wet field) and walked 20 mins down into the valley with the hordes chanting and carrying their huge flags. Just paid for normal entry rather than a grandstand. Whole thing seems to be built around a huge hill with an inconceivable amount of left hand corners so you get a good view of that corner and not the next because it's behind you. Scramble up to the top of the hill where it's been levelled off for the beer tankers and sausage sellers. Difficult to get an idea of the whole circuit when stood in the middle.
When I went Marquez fell off in warm up right in front of us and such was the violence of the crash I was surprised to see him out on the grid for the race. He murdered every one in the race after changing to slicks on a 6 inch wide dry line and Cal finished 3rd.
Great atmosphere even in the rain.
Edited by moto_traxport on Monday 31st December 16:11
Fantastic track, probably my favourite.
Buy tickets online, the official website has videos that show the view of the track from each grandstand and most have a view of a TV screen.
Fly budget to Laipzig (Halle) or Prague in Czech Republic and hire a car cheap.
Official campsite is like Beirut at night so if you're camping there you will not sleep.
Hostels and hotels nearby are reasonably cheap, even cheaper if you drive over the border to CZ.
Buy tickets online, the official website has videos that show the view of the track from each grandstand and most have a view of a TV screen.
Fly budget to Laipzig (Halle) or Prague in Czech Republic and hire a car cheap.
Official campsite is like Beirut at night so if you're camping there you will not sleep.
Hostels and hotels nearby are reasonably cheap, even cheaper if you drive over the border to CZ.
Edited by Rubin215 on Monday 31st December 21:55
Aye, you've put a bee in my bonnet now...
Thinking about maybe heading over myself now and taking the kids; they haven't been to a GP before and general entry is free for their age (under 11).
Tickets are already bookable on the Motgp.com website; not sure if there is a premium on them though as they will use another booking agent to complete the sales. I'm going to wait and see what they cost on the Sachsenring site.
If you were going for a grandstand, my choice is either T3 or T4, both have a pretty good view of exciting bits, but you might prefer somewhere else; have a look on youtube for footage from different places.
Bear in mind that it can be absolutely roasting there in July so plan on taking shorts, t-shirts and plenty of sun-block. Wear decent shoes, not flip-flops though, there's plenty of walking involved in getting from parking to track and plenty to see once you're there so you won't stay in one place all day.
If you're changing by the side of the bike you will be safe enough leaving kit in panniers or top-boxes, there are so many bikes there that any thief will have hundreds to choose from before getting round to yours...
Beer is pretty cheap and very, very nice, they quite literally have a tanker-full set up in the middle of the beer tent in the center of the arena, but there are other outlets all round the place.
Plastic glasses are a 1 euro deposit; when you bring you glass back you get your euro back so there is a lot less plastic litter.
DON'T be tempted to drink and ride, if you do get caught the fine is draconian.
Food is good value and decent portions.
Make sure and have an EHIC card, just in case, and up to date travel and breakdown insurance.
On the way over, be in plenty of time for your ferry; they definitely won't wait!
Not all autobahns are unrestricted, stick to the posted limits, especially in roadworks; again, the fines are draconian and nonnegotiable, cops generally only speak limited English (less and less as you get towards former east-Germany) and you're never going to talk your way out of one - if you're caught, you're caught.
The people are generally very friendly and helpful, the younger generation often have great english, less and less as people get older and forget about it with anyone above about 50.
Since you're staying nearby, don't get involved in talking politics after a few beers; there is a lot of right-wing, anti-foreigner sentiment in the region.
If you have time for some sightseeing, you're not all that far from Colditz Castle (I met Jeremy McWilliams there a few years ago).
You could also go on to Leipzig if you have a day free to visit the zoo (seriously, it's amazing!) and further north again takes you to the Harz mountains, narrow-gauge steam railways and Brocken mountain.
South of there takes you into CZ, but it's probably the s
tiest part of the whole country so if you want to do a Czech day-trip go further east towards Pirna, then come into the country through the Bohemian Switzerland park; the views and roads are amazing.
Anyway, whatever you do, have fun!
Thinking about maybe heading over myself now and taking the kids; they haven't been to a GP before and general entry is free for their age (under 11).
Tickets are already bookable on the Motgp.com website; not sure if there is a premium on them though as they will use another booking agent to complete the sales. I'm going to wait and see what they cost on the Sachsenring site.
If you were going for a grandstand, my choice is either T3 or T4, both have a pretty good view of exciting bits, but you might prefer somewhere else; have a look on youtube for footage from different places.
Bear in mind that it can be absolutely roasting there in July so plan on taking shorts, t-shirts and plenty of sun-block. Wear decent shoes, not flip-flops though, there's plenty of walking involved in getting from parking to track and plenty to see once you're there so you won't stay in one place all day.
If you're changing by the side of the bike you will be safe enough leaving kit in panniers or top-boxes, there are so many bikes there that any thief will have hundreds to choose from before getting round to yours...
Beer is pretty cheap and very, very nice, they quite literally have a tanker-full set up in the middle of the beer tent in the center of the arena, but there are other outlets all round the place.
Plastic glasses are a 1 euro deposit; when you bring you glass back you get your euro back so there is a lot less plastic litter.
DON'T be tempted to drink and ride, if you do get caught the fine is draconian.
Food is good value and decent portions.
Make sure and have an EHIC card, just in case, and up to date travel and breakdown insurance.
On the way over, be in plenty of time for your ferry; they definitely won't wait!
Not all autobahns are unrestricted, stick to the posted limits, especially in roadworks; again, the fines are draconian and nonnegotiable, cops generally only speak limited English (less and less as you get towards former east-Germany) and you're never going to talk your way out of one - if you're caught, you're caught.
The people are generally very friendly and helpful, the younger generation often have great english, less and less as people get older and forget about it with anyone above about 50.
Since you're staying nearby, don't get involved in talking politics after a few beers; there is a lot of right-wing, anti-foreigner sentiment in the region.
If you have time for some sightseeing, you're not all that far from Colditz Castle (I met Jeremy McWilliams there a few years ago).
You could also go on to Leipzig if you have a day free to visit the zoo (seriously, it's amazing!) and further north again takes you to the Harz mountains, narrow-gauge steam railways and Brocken mountain.
South of there takes you into CZ, but it's probably the s
tiest part of the whole country so if you want to do a Czech day-trip go further east towards Pirna, then come into the country through the Bohemian Switzerland park; the views and roads are amazing.Anyway, whatever you do, have fun!
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff