Following the good advice of
Patrick Degryse, organiser of the inaugural Madeira TT last year, some 20
bikes and riders found themselves on the small island of Porto Santo
facing Madeira the beginning of November. Good advice since the island
offered to its newest inhabitants a large beach of white sand, stretching
for 5 miles and a warm temperature of 21 degrees with a pure, unpolluted
blue ocean, with emerald reflections. SO who could ask for more when the
temperature in France does not go over 8 degrees??..
So a good
handful of riders, happy and motivated finally landed on the island on the
29th of October, some by ferry, three hours of travel, some by
small plane, only 20 minutes to reach the Porto Santo island also known by
the sweet name of Ilha Dourada.
Last but not least, the famous
guest who stayed with all the riders the whole week end was the Portuguese
Minister of Transport, Carmona RODRIGUES, who came to support the race and
the old racing machines he rides himself. A very passionate fan who held
the chequered flag out for each participant on the finish line.
One practice session of about
10 laps of the track was enough to set the atmosphere on the Friday
afternoon. About 1.5 miles for a very fast track, much faster than last
year, but safer. One chicane had to be set near the pitlane to slow the
riders, and more than 2000 tyres were placed around the track at strategic
spots, corners, walls, and even more walls!!!… Eric SAUL, with the help of
the local Moto Club, and its race director Nelio, certainly had a lot of
work to check out all the dangerous spots and protect the riders and
machinery from too much damage and harm. The local population could
therefore take advantage of a fantastic show, the first of its kind on the
island. Even the wandering dogs, very numerous and dangerous last year
were absent. Fortunately there were no major incidents to report.
The 20 riders were
divided in two groups for the week end. Two races on Saturday 1st
and three races on Sunday the 2nd on November. Needless to say
that great riders like 8 times world champion Phil Read on his 350 Yamaha
GP, his son, Graham Read, also on a 350 Yamaha GP,, John Loder, second
this year at the Manx Grand Prix on this Westlake 500 and the “ crazy”
Irish riders straight from the tight road circuits of Ulster enjoyed
themselves in the first race.
It was a very impressive show
and a great race where the adrenaline flowed.
All the members were
together for the Grande FINALE on Sunday November 2nd
afternoon. The weather was perfect blue skies and the atmosphere very
friendly. The sole female rider in this the, last competition of the year
was Sandrine DUFILS, riding the 350 Harris of Eric SAUL. She finished 8th
on the bike which had won the Grande Finale last year with Eric.
Patrick Degryse had provided
some very nice trophies for the occasion, and Phil Read, with his vast
experience of opening the winner’s bottle of champagne kept showering the
crowd, his son and the other riders with the great wine on the podium.
Everyone speaking Irish, French, Spanish, English, Portuguese, with no
problem of understanding each other at all, passion makes itself easy to
share and understand.
Once again, the fun, sun
parties and racing were mixing together to create so many good memories,
far from the cold and worries back at home. The end of the season was a
blast, with songs, good wine and beer, no incidents or accidents - who
could ask for more? For those who did not come, think about adding a late
season race on your calendar for next year and the good reasons to go
racing under the sun and far from the beaten track.
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