Jerez is hot, a bit crazy and, as it seems from what Toby Moody has to tell us from his exclusive view of the MotoGP, Moto2 and 125 paddocks, a great day out for all the family…
Loco motion
Jerez always puts a spring in your step. Strong sunshine, a 'normal' paddock, the full cadre of people who might not have made it to Qatar, the mad fans and the strange mix of perfume you smell in the pitlane from the umbrella girls (pictured, above) as they stand outside the garages. The hubbub of noise that wakes you up four or five times a night wherever you stay in the area is all part of the pilgrimage to one of the nuttiest racedays of them all, as bikes are revved on their limiters until dawn no matter how many police are present. They just let people get on with it – in fact in downtown Jerez they now cordon off a street to actively encourage wheelies and stoppies in a controlled environment rather than let people go to the backstreets. Even the local TV station sets cameras up to show it all!
A tall story
Team Márquez was present in full force in Moto2. Dad Julio and taller brother Alex made quite a sight in Marc’s garage. Just wait until Alex starts racing at the top levels… we hear he might just be quicker than reigning 125cc champion Marc.
Toby Moody
Des journalistes, déjeuner…
Former Red Bull Yamaha 500cc rider and Valencia GP winner from 1999 Regis Laconi appeared at Jerez with shaved head and trimmed beard. He slipped into the press conference so quietly on Thursday that he barely attracted a glance from any of the regular journos who reported on him during his 500cc racing years. His role was to commentate on the MotoGP sessions for French Eurosport. Not the 125 or the Moto2, however – a Frenchman must make time for a decent lunch, you understand...
Sofa, so good
With the new motorhomes and revamped set-ups of some teams, perhaps the most eyecatching update was the larger-than-life numbers 46 and 69 at Ducati. As seats, they were just too cool for school. So too was the specially made armchair in the corner. Just how many of these might they sell in a dealership? 
Toby Moody
Cat scan
Actor Danny John-Jules (best known as ‘The Cat’ in Red Dwarf) again did the full-on fan experience thing trackside at Jerez, rubbing shoulders with Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa on the grid before going out towards the first corner to watch the race unfold. "I saw Marco Simoncelli’s accident just after I'd moved to turn three. I saw his head fly over the crowd and I thought, 'That's odd.'" Odd indeed, Simoncelli really did get bumped straight up off the Gresini Honda as he crashed out of the lead…
Another Dan…
In only his seventh grand prix, Danny Kent (who, confusingly, is actually from Gloucestershire) steamed through the 125cc field to get fourth position. It was a brilliant result for the Red Bull Rookies Cup runner-up from 2010. "If I'd pushed at the start it might have been even better, but I was a bit hesitant in the wet. I was seventh or eighth after the first lap, but they'd all pass me on the home straight with the full-spec RSA Aprilias over my RSW version. The RSA is so much smoother… maybe I’ll get one before the end of the season and have a go," he joked.
… and a Jan
Taylor Mackenzie, another Red Bull Rookies rider from 2010, was fifth, the 18-year-old over the moon at such a result. At least I called his Mum Jan on the TV this week, rather than Janet… Sorry about that, Jan!
Toby Moody
Bradl still sharp
Stefan Bradl put his Moto2 Kalex on pole position for the second time on the bounce, this time making sure he did it in front of his watching dad Helmut (pictured, above left), who was a previous winner at Jerez. Former 250cc racer Johan Stigefeldt (pictured with his arm around my shoulder, above right) was another ex-racer who appeared, this time as commentator for Swedish TV. Great guy.
Hop back in time
John Hopkins got a warm reception on his return to the paddock, having drifted off after the demise of Kawasaki at the end of 2008. He was standing in for the injured Álvaro Bautista at Suzuki. Signed up to do British Superbikes this year, it was all a bit in-at-the-deep-end for the number 21, but everyone was happy to see him get his second chance. He even got the free use of a motorhome in the paddock such was the wish for him to do well. No disrespect to Suzuki test rider Nobu Aoki, who takes over in Portugal, but it will almost be a shame when Hopper goes to Oulton Park with BSB and not with the MotoGP circus to Estoril. 
Toby Moody
The overall picture
The Dainese truck has got bigger and taller over the winter off-season, this time parked right in the middle of the line of trucks behind the garages. Dodging down a gap between Repsol Honda and the Italian leather manufacturer revealed the door to an Aladdin's cave. From right to left, Valentino Rossi, Pol Espargaró, Simone Corsi, Aleix Espargaró, Ratthapark Wilairot, Niklas Ajo.
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