The 2010 MotoGP title could be decided this weekend with Jorge Lorenzo primed to take his third World Championship crown – his first in the premier class. The Fiat Yamaha rider goes into Round 15 at Sepang with a 69-point advantage over Dani Pedrosa - the only man who can stop him from being proclaimed Champion - but Pedrosa's fractured a collarbone injured in a crash last week means Lorenzo only needs to finish ninth or better on Sunday to lift the title now. We head to Sepang this weekend to find out more about round 15 of the MotoGP Championship.
ITINERARY:Day 1: Singapore - Sepang
Day 2: Sepang - Singapore
DAY 1 (09 October 2010, Saturday)Setting off at 0730hrs in the morning, I took the Nissan Latio into to Malaysia for the first time. Fuel consumption looks pretty decent at 12km/ltr based on an average speed of 140km/h on the North South Highway.
By around 1000hrs, I arrived at Seremban for breakfast, before going straight to Sepang International Circuit. As usual, the autograph session begins at 1200hrs with the MotoGP riders appearing randomly to meet the fans for autographs.
Valentino Rossi
Jorge Lorenzo
Colin Edwards
Andrea Dovizioso
Marco Simoncelli
Hector Barbera
Alvaro Bautista
Aleix Espargaro
Nicky Hayden
Mika Kallio
Casey Stoner
Some race queens at the booths
The favourite spectator spot at Turn 15
125cc qualifying session with Randy Krummennacher
Danny Webb
Sandro Cortese
Alvaro Bautista prepares for qualifying
Jorge Lorenzo ready to start
MotoGP qualifying session with Nicky Hayden
Valentino Rossi
Andrea Dovizioso
Hiroshi Aoyama
Hector Barbera
Jorge Lorenzo
Loris Capirossi
Randy de Puniet
Alvario Bautista
Ben Spies
Colin Edwards
Valentino Rossi
Marco Simoncelli
Aleix Espargaro
Mika Kallio
Casey Stoner
Marco Melandri
Nicky Hayden
Loris Capirossi
Randy de Puniet
Mika Kallio wheelies at the end of the session
Japanese supporters
Moto2 Qualifying session with Julian Simon
Andrea Iannone
Dominique Aegerter
Ratthapark Wilairot
Mike De Meglio
Yuki Takahashi
At the end of the session at around 1700hrs, I went over to Nilai town to get a hotel room. Nilai town is not too far from Sepang, and there are quite a number of hotel choices. Newly opened Sai Villa offered a clean and decent room for RM100.
Cheap and good dinner in Nilai
DAY 2 (10 October 2010, Sunday)It's race day, the day everyone is looking forward to. Again, let's begin with some race queens...
Randy De Puniet's autograph session
At the 125cc race, with Danny Webb
Malaysia's very own - Zulfahmi Khairuddin
Pol Espargaro
Sandro Cortese and Nicolas Terol
Shooting at Turn 9
Randy Krummenacher
Zulfahmi Khairuddin
On the 125cc podium with Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro, and Nicolas Terol
Before the start of the Moto2 race
Thomas Luthi
Toni Elias
Gabor Talmacsi
Andrea Iannone
Ratthapark Wilairot
And the Moto2 race begins.....
Toni Elias
Thomas Luthi
Kenny Noyes
Andrea Iannone
Alex De Angelis
Stafan Bradl
Julian Simon
Malaysia's Mohamad Zamri Baba
Despite finishing 4th in today's race, Toni Elias is crowed the new Moto2 World Champion.
On the Moto2 podium with Roberto Rolfo, Alex De Andelis, and Andrea Inannone
Newly crowned Moto2 World Champion - Toni Elias
Grid girls and race queens for the MotoGP race
MotoGP commentator Gavin Emmet
Alvario Bautista
Andrea Dovizioso
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi and chief mechanic Jeremy Burgess
Colin Edwards
Casey Stoner
Loris Carpirossi
Hiroshi Aoyama
Marco Simoncelli
Marco Melandri
Randy De Puniet
Mika Kallio
Valentino Rossi getting ready
Jorge Lorenzo
Hiroshi Aoyama & Hector Barbera
Andrea Dovizioso
Mika Kallio
Team mates battling out
Marco Simoncelli
Ben Spies
Hector Barbera
Randy De Puniet
Marco Melandri
Valentino Rossi
Nicky Hayden
Battle of the old rivals
Hiroshi Aoyama waves to the crowd at the end of the race
Valentino Rossi may have won the race, but it was teammate Jorge Lorenzo who wins his first MotoGP World Title at Sepang. Rossi's 10th World Title came to a halt this year mainly due to injury at Mugello earlier this year. Let's hope Rossi can bounce back next year with his new Ducati factory team.
Departing from Sepang, I dropped by at Yew Meng in Kulai for a sumptious dinner/supper.
MORE PHOTOSClick
HERE FAST FACTSPetrol: S$27
Toll: S$23
Carpark: S$2
Accomodation: S$21
MotoGP Entrance tickets: $43
Food & beverages & miscellaneous: S$44
TOTAL EXPENDITURE: S$160EXCHANGE RATES$1.00 = Rm2.35
TRAVEL GUIDES / NEWS / MAGAZINESSepang International Circuit
http://www.malaysiangp.com.my/
Sai Villa Nilai
http://www.saivillahotel.com/
MAPShttp://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Sepang_International_Circuit
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