For my birthday this year Mrs Damodici is treating me to a trip to Mugello for the motogp. It's one of those milestone birthdays (40) so she wants to do something special. I'd really like to experience the atmosphere in Mugello while Rossi is still racing and it's only a couple of weeks after the big day itself. Problem is I don't want it to cost her (us) a fortune and equally I'd rather not wing this trip like I do wherever I go touring on the bike. It's not really fair to leave the organising to her as motorbikes are my thing, plus I have you lot to rely on We'll need flights, a hire car and I suspect we'd look at getting to Italy Thursday evening / Friday morning and then leaving Monday evening. So starting with the tickets, where's the best place to buy them online and is a general admission type ticket going to give us decent viewing but inclusion in the atmosphere? I'm not precious about having a grandstand seat if it's not advised to really experience the place, I'd rather muck in with everyone I reckon. Also is there a good place to stay locally? or are we simply best travelling in from afar on the Saturday for qualifying and the Sunday for race day. I've driven in Italy a few times so that doesn't bother me, but if I can shorten the journey without being stuck in a boring sleepy town that'd be great. Obviously any other advice welcome......within reason chaps
I was on a Mugello trackday last year, we used a hotel in Borgo San Lorenzo call the Ripaverde, 5 mins from the track, nice little town, may well already be booked up, but you never know.
Unfortunately sold out Many thanks though. This is probably why it might be better we stay further afield. I dont suppose you know if there are bus services running from local towns to the track or a park & ride type thing?
I went a few years ago on the bike. I just bought a general admission ticket on the gate. The atmosphere was mad but great. I struggled to get a decent place to watch from trackside but we arrived just before the strt of the racing. We stayed in a hotel on the outskirts of Bologna, and had a great ride there. However getting out afterwards is a nightmare so wont be fun in a car, so I would park somewhere nearby and walk rather than entering the track complex. Try the porchetta sandwiches : Nice with a cold Nastro Azuro.
Funnily enough I was talking to a chap today who went to Mugello GP last year, he was staying in Florence, then just caught the train to the circuit, about 40 mins, then a bus picks you up at the train drop off, not a train station as we know it apparently, and takes you to the track. It may be something they just lay on for the event, I don't know. Sounds like the traffic around the circuit is a bit of a nightmare, so the train option might be the way to go.
That sounds great and pretty much what i want, that way i can drink and just enjoy myself. I don't know how well you know this chap, but if he's a friend, would you mind seeing if he could give you some more specifics to pass on to me about this train/bus combo? Appreciate if not but worth asking.
Have been twice....it's amazing! Getting in and out of circuit is a challenge, we took the advice to leave at 5am from bologna....honestly? Yeah... we left at 6 on bikes and just made it with a police escort at the end(another story). Hire a bike it's slightly easier, not much. Get a grandstand...Ducati grandstand is Not bad and has a big screen... run for the finish line at the end! Hotels are usually booked a year in advance. You will have a blast!
I went with the missus a few years ago on the bike doing a Euro tour, luckily I've got an Italian mate who lives 30 mins away, he navigated us in spoke with the cops and got through a lot of the traffic. We were in the Ducati grandstand which offers a pretty good view but I don't think you'd see more/less anywhere else. It is chaos though, getting in and out is a challenge. There's a nice town not far away called Fiesole I think, nice cafes etc so that might be an option, and Florence isn't that much further away either.
Yes I've been looking at Florence as a possible place to stay, it's just trying to figure out some form of public transport to the track from there. My Italian isn't what you would call good
I'm 52 this year so I'm praying my mrs will surprise me with a trip to japan for the moto gp to celebrate this very special birthday!!!!! Bet she doesn't.
I did Motegi last year, very efficient and viewing was pretty good even on the oval, race day is manic though and unbeknown to me you need a parking pass before the event, I blagged it but worth mentioning. Getting in/out on race day was a mare also, took about 2 hours just to get out of the circuit and then a 90 min drive back to the hotel. Also did PI in 2014 for our honeymoon, had VIP passes and watched the race from on top on the garages, met pretty much everyone there. There's only around 50k people go so it's not too bad getting in/out however we were staying in Melbourne which again was a 90 min drive each way.
The chap is not a friend, just a customer that was in the shop last week, there are bus and train details on how to get to the Mugello circuit on the discovertuscany website, that should give you a good heads up.
I stayed in Florence and got brownie points from the wife. She loves bikes and GP but enjoyed staying in the city. Trains to the circuit are regular and easy and there are so many race fans travelling it's impossible to get lost or go wrong. On non race days you'll need to get a taxi from the local station to the track (or walk). On race day there is a free bus transfer service. The taxi drivers are maniacs as time is money. The fight to get on the free bus can get out of hand as frustrations rise with pushing in on queues. Overall a great weekend!
Cheers Bob So I presume it's as simple as getting a train from Florence straight to Mugello? Or is it a station / town near Mugello? Sorry for dumb questions but I'd be right in the dog house if she bought the tickets and we got there without a plan how to actually use them
