AutoMotoPhoto®

58 of #58 - The Book

2012-01-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

58 of #58 - Marco Simoncelli

There has been so much going on in my life recently, especially with my wife Emily's health that I have neglected to update "BlogWorld" with this little book I put together of pictures I have taken of Marco Simoncelli from 2008 through to Malaysia, 2011. It's my little tribute if you like, to someone who didn't follow the corporate model, but was a true racer, with that Barry Sheene flamboyance that seems to have been lost due to everyone worrying about their sponsors. Possibly the natural successor to Rossi? Who knows. The world is full of surprises and "what if's". If you're interested in owning one of these simply click the link HERE to find out more

The Shorty Awards...in Photography!

2012-01-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again and so I kindly ask for your support in this little annual fun event!!

Just click on this link to the Photography category page...add a reason after the "because" and "tweet"

Thank you!!

Josh Hayes MotoGP - Cycleworld - Racewatch

2012-01-04T23:27:00.000-08:00

A lightning update here....

My good friend Josh Hayes (accompanied by his wife Melissa) were initially invited by Tech3 Yamaha to ride their bikes following the race weekend at the final MotoGP round at Valencia in Spain last November. After Colin Edwards was injured in the collision that involved Marco Simoncelli and Valentino Rossi, the test ride became a race ride....I photographed and interviewed Josh Hayes for Cycleworld Magazine over the race weekend on his thoughts about Simoncelli, Edwards etc, and his emotions about the opportunity and how he approached the entire adventure...

MotoGP - 2011 Season In Pictures - AutoMotoPhoto

2012-01-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who views my blog, follows my ramblings on Twitter @automotophoto or is a "Liker" on my Facebook page at "Andrew Wheeler-AutoMotoPhoto"...

2011 MOTOGP SEASON AUTOMOTOPHOTO REVIEW - Images by Andrew Wheeler | AutoMotoPhoto

I was going to go on and on about Valencia, the last round of the 2011 season but have since decided that the best way to summarize the year would be to put together the mother of all slideshows. Starting with round 1 in Qatar and ending up with the final round 18 in Valencia. You'll see a selection of images from each round that I covered (14/18) that hopefully will tell a story. Maybe it's more like a novel. It should hopefully keep you going until at least the season opener at the beginning of April!

If you wish to view the slideshow full screen simply click on the little "expand" button that sits next to "Share" and of couse, should you wish to share feel free to do so. I will let the slide show tell the story as for me, it was a wonderful year tinged with sadness. 2012 hasn't started off in the best of ways, but we'll see what happens and there will be updates as we go forward.

MotoGP wall art for 2012?

2011-12-19T10:44:00.000-08:00

VR46 #58 limited edition giclee canvas print

I thought I had added this update to my blog...but with Christmas and the decompression that takes place after the end of the season I overlooked this one medium. OOPS! I wanted to add that these have been rather popular, so if you're interested in having something a little bit different to hang on your wall follow this link for information on how to order/purchase, but don't wait too long!

Actual product - photographed outside in natural daylight 24"x18"

To find out more and order your print click here

AutoMotoPhoto 2012 Calendars

Whilst I am writing about items of beauty, it might also be worth mentioning that my annual AutoMotoPhoto calendar is still available for purchase. In fact, not only can you have it custom made with your favourite MotoGP rider, but the start month can also be changed. So if you'd like you calendar to run from February to February, this can be arrange. I have included below a photograph of one generic calendar, and two custom calendars so you can see the quality of the finish as well as how beautiful they look...

To find out more about the 2012 calendar click here

Ciao Marco - The Minute

2011-11-08T00:28:00.000-08:00

The massed tribute at the Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Cheste

The image (for me) says it all. We'll just leave it at that.

AutoMotoPhoto 2012 Motorcycle Racing Calendar now available

2011-11-04T23:18:00.000-07:00

Available to order now...

Andrew Wheeler's 2012 AutoMootoPhoto GP Calendar

Last years high quality calendar was a roaring success and so I am offering this calendar yet again. With 12 uniquely different images taken at MotoGP races all over the globe during the 2011 racing season this calendar offers a traditional calendar starting on Sunday combined with a photograph chosen from one of the races I have covered.

Also, what makes this calendar special, is to be able to specify your own favourite rider from the MotoGP class to have as a custom calendar at no additional cost.

For ordering information click here and to view actual photos of the 2011 calendar (on FaceBook) click here .....

#CiaoMarco - A selection of images from 250cc to October 23, 2011

2011-10-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

Today was his funeral.

Today I put together a selection of images I hope reflect the man.

I also have the same gallery here on FB

2011 RD0 MOTOGP MARCO SIMONCELLI

Images by Andrew Wheeler | AutoMotoPhoto

If anyone is interested in using any of these images. Or wishes to purchase prints etc, please contact me.

Until Valencia.

Ciao Marco

From happy to sad in less than 120 minutes. Goodbye Marco.

2011-10-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

I never knew him that well.....

Marco Simoncelli locking down the 250cc Championship in Phillip Island 2008

..but when you travel constantly with the "MotoGP" circus you become a familiar face. Over time you'll receive a "ciao" or a "bongiorno" when passing in the paddock in the morning, during the evening or even as these people walk through the media centre. However, it was in Phillip Island in parc ferme where Marco recognised me when I asked him to look down into my camera for a goofy shot of him waving. He obliged.

This was only my second trip to Malaysia covering MotoGP and the heat and humidity aside, it is a happy place to visit, even if this is work (!). You have people who seem to have a positive gene in their DNA. Nothing is too much trouble if you need help, directions whatever.

hopefully they buy their tickets sequentially....or do they swap t-shirts if not?

I never thought that the heat would become so transparent simply because the energy of the people who live here rises above this little niggling thing. So it was after the end of the Moto2 race I simply decided I would sit on my scooter in front of the grandstands and stay in the shade. Rather than go back into the media centre and then have to go through the painful process of acclimatizing to the heat from the cold once again, it just makes sense to simply "stay out". Which I did. So here I am, sat in front of all these fans who have travelled from all over the region (from Indonesia etc for this race weekend) and they're smiling, waving and asking me questions about "the job". I felt so connected and so not far away. Knowing I only had a race day and Monday here in Malaysia this makes the day complete for me. As I have mentioned before, I love this place, even with the crazy drivers and crazier scooter riders. It's fantastic.

Happiness is infectious

Time to go to work. First up the starting grid row girls that show the grid rows...then the teams roll out accompanied by the umbrella girls that keep the sun off the rider...the grid is prepared with tap crowd barriers around the various locations on the grid where the riders are placed. The grid is full, aside from the riders. The bikes are fired up, they head out on track, and the final wave of crew chiefs, mechanics come to join the their various crews out on the grid... dignitaries arrive and the clock starts ticking down to "go time" The mad scurrying of TV crews, photographers, people who have been granted access to the grid all trying to capture, talk to or see their subjects makes it a challenge, but a fun one at that. The back drop sounds of fans chanting "Rossi" "Rossi" make this feel somewhat gladiatorial.

Alvaro Bautista keeps himself focussed and cool

With the clock ticking, and most photographers having got their required images, it's a mad scrambling of crazy scooter riding to the first corner (or wherever)...with everyone in place, you watch from distance the grid clear. Warm up lap. The bikes leave in no particular order for the last lap before race start. The anticipation grows within. Next, you see them arrive on the grid. The flagman at the rear confirms everyone is in their place, the flagmen at the front and rear, signal to each other then clear off the grid..the lights come on and we're under way. The bikes come at you and everyone is capturing the race start. The pack disappears around the corner and you hear the roar of bikes in the distance racing.

Next you hear them coming down the track on the other side of the grandstands, then they're in full view coming at you, here comes lap two. They pass, then we all break out to a new location.

The "last lap" for Marco Simoncelli

Then the red flags come out. Silence. Nothing on the jumbotrons except replays of the start. Then we see why there is a red flag. The normally smiley faces of photographers turns to worry. One mentions to me that "his [Simoncelli's] helmet came off. We knew that wasn't a good sign even from where we were standing. But speculating isn't what we do. So we wait and wait and wait. Then the call comes, race cancelled. Deflated. We knew something was not good. We head back to the media centre. There's an eerie silence.

The loudest noise in a normally very noisy media centre is the air conditioning fans.

Then it is announced that Marco Simoncelli has succumbed to his injuries. People who you know have seen so much through their lenses now have red eyes. No one speaks. There was a press conference at 5.45pm to provide an opportunity for questions. People seem to be in a state of disbelief. Surreal.

Thank you for being so colourful, vibrant and full of life - image taken at Phillip Island, 10.15.2011

Marco was different. Cavalier, dynamic and and was loaded with energy. You'll be missed. My thoughts go to his family. I'd also like to send some get well wishes to Colin Edwards as well.

Tragic day.

Casey Stoner - World Champion

2011-10-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

Casey Stoner atop his motorcycle in parc ferme after winning the race, and the World Championship

A quick update from last weekends MotoGP Round 16 at Phillip Island in Australia..and a simple update at that...with nothing more to say...Casey Stoner really put his stamp on the season and pulled off the race win, the championship and it was his birthday to boot...not bad going I guess.

The trip to Phillip Island was, as it always is, a lot of fun. I know some wonderful people who visit the island over the race weekend that it almost feel like a family gathering. So thank you to all who made my visit most enjoyable. Also a big thank you again to those who attended my first seminar and to Paul Stafford of Spice Island for being able to host it.

Images from Phillip Island and previous rounds are online in my AutoMotoPhoto MotoGP Photography searchable archive.

Next up, images and tales from Malaysia....where I am penning this update.

You can't keep it all to yourself - Sharing and helping others to "see"

2011-10-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

I admit I was nervous.

But after we had the meet and greet, and the av-display had been set up and connected to my laptop I felt that something clicked within me. This just felt right.

That's me! AutoMotoPhoto inaugural seminar Phillip Island

My wife Emily had suggested I take my photography and what I know in a new direction and this was it. The day went well and I was amazed at the level of enthusiasm of the people who had joined me for the day. We ran through the program I had put together, with the morning focussing on image ideas, "seeing" and thinking differently as well as taking a look at peoples images and taking input from people on not only each others images and ways of thinking, but also my own images. In the afternoon we looked at self promotion, marketing, search engine optimisation as well as how to use the freely available social media outlets to build or share your work with others.

The day ended with dinner and a few beers before everyone headed off for the race weekend....

A fantastic day, and a big thank you to Helen, Frank, Anant, Simon and Robert who signed up. A good sized group which allowed for everyone's questions and discussions to be heard and answered.

The next Andrew Wheeler AutoMotoPhoto Seminar is being organized...

AutoMotoPhoto - Website is now updated...

2011-10-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

Casey Stoners RCV212 in parc ferme, Motorland Aragon

A quick mention to let you know that my main website, AutoMotoPhoto has been refreshed with images from every race I have covered in 2011...and in total there is nearly six years worth of racing images that could kill some time over a wintery weekend..

Join me and others at the Phillip Island MotoGP Photography Seminar

MotoGP Phillip Island Exclusive! AutoMotoPhoto seminar and dinner!

2011-09-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

AutoMotoPhoto Seminar Poster

Many people have asked me if I would run a seminar. I have gotten together with a good friend who lives on the Island and we're going to be putting on the inaugural AutoMotoPhoto Photography Seminar and Dinner in San Remo. Wednesday (10/12) before the race weekend is when it's going to happen.

Also!!! After a long day of instruction, critique and big thinking, Paul and I will be cooking dinner for those who will be attending.

This seminar is designed for amateurs who have a solid understanding of the principles of photography but want to develop their skills in this one day intensive class. We'll cover subjects such as your goals, peer reviews and critiques..how to make do with the equipment you already have and how to think outside the box...we'll also go into how to sell or market your images using current methods including social media tools...and how to approach the mystical world of getting published...I can't teach you how to have a "style", but I will hopefully impart enough information to fuel that desire to enable you to think differently and to feel confident about your work.

Seating is limited due to the nature of this class.

For pricing and further information simply send an email to me, Andrew Wheeler here and by return I will send you the schedule and a link for you to sign up and pay for your seat! To download the poster click here

I look forward to hearing from you and we'll see you there....

Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner...from Misano to Aragon. The Renaissance, castles and the countryside...

2011-09-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

Valentino Rossi at his "home" race wearing his special liveried Misano special helmet

I love castles.

Gradara

So it's rather interesting that we go from the Adriatic and the home of Lucrezia Borgia (and all that lovely warmth and kindness as the perfect dinner host she was) to Aragon, where the two regions are actually loosely connected by families marrying one off to the other. I love this region of Italy, the coastline that becomes extremely dramatic not too far inland with huge outcrops of rocks topped with castles.

Urbino

Last years trip to Misano started out tinged with sadness of the loss during the race weekend prior at Indianapolis. Little did we know that the race weekend at Misanowould also end in sadness (see the previous blog entry). Fortunately, this years events ended with no tragedies but with an excellent showing of racecraft by Jorge Lorenzo...

Jorge Lorenzo and his crew celebrate his crossing the finish line

A side trip was in order to Valentino Rossi's village, Tavulia, although the mood in the village did seem a little a little quieter than last.

Valentino Rossi's hometown

The banner that shows his 100 victories has faded somewhat, but in many of the windows as before, there are cardboard cutouts of the maestro himself watching over the visitors. One thing that was different from last year was the video booth. This appeared so as fans visiting to send Valentino a personal message if support.

the VR46 video box in Tavulia

Gone was the life-size cardboard Yamaha team cutout and garage that was very popular with folks who wanted to have a picture of themselves taken with whoever works in the garage. Maybe next year there'll be a Ducati version.

This year I stayed at a fabulous little flat in the city of Cattolica with Ben Spies Fan Club creators Luca Ottolini and his fabulous wife Chiara. We had a great week of good food, laughter, Jesus ducks and of course being less than 3 minutes from a gelateria, gelato.

The fan club!

Lots of gelato....thanks again to Simone for being such a help in having the apartment for us....looks like next year we're all set for Misano too!

Ben Spies rounds turn 9 at Misano

With that, it was back home for a few days before heading off (again) to Barcelona for the Motorland Aragon experience! Arriving late into Barcelona it was then a solid 2-3hour drive to the lovely little village of Beceite.

Beceite, Teruel

I stayed here last year and we loved it so much not only did we come back, but we rented the entire building to avoid the racket we suffered at the hands of a rather large group of excitable motorcyclists who were upstairs.

Base camp Beceite!

This year, I shared the upstairs apartment with Andrew Northcott, Jules Cisek and his wife Bernadette. Mr Motomatters, David Emmett, Jarno from Holland, Abraham (from Spain) and his friend occupied the floor we stayed on last year.That meant we had normality and tranquility upon our return from a busy day at the track.

Quite the dramatic scenery commute to work...

As before the drive to the track winds through some seriously spectacular scenery. Jules Cisek ran his Go-Pro during one of our morning drives and hopefully, when he has edited the footage, we'll have something to share here...we'll just back track a bit.

Motorland Aragon race day

Motorland Aragon, as I explained last year, is out in the middle of nowhere, not far from the town of Alcaniz, which is also, out in the middle of nowhere. That said, this area is chock full of history, especially related to The Renaissance, the invasions by the Moors, and long before that, the Romans and Greek. Evidence in the forms of minarets, aqueducts and castles show the various cultural influences in the area. It is well worth visit and a stay.

Tortosa

Race weekend came, sadly Friday was a morning only job. A local transformer blew up and caught fire and that killed the power to the race track. In the afternoon, because there was no timing and scoring, or power for anything it was decided to abandon the afternoons sessions. Personally I felt the riders could've gone out and done some fan laps on scooters because there were an awful to of very disappointed fans in the stands who'd stuck out the heat and winds waiting for something to happen.

The Great Wall of Aragon - dramatic and the perfect backdrop

But that's me I guess. Someone was so miffed off that they threw their sandwich at ME!! I thought that was funny, but still. I do feel something should be on hand for moments like this. After all, this is all about entertainment IMO.

Hayden rounding the mini-corkscrew

Race day rolls around, the factory Honda's roll out a rather interesting race day livery in some shocking orange colour (which initially I wasn't too keen on - but it looked good in photos).

MotoGP Aragon race winner Casey Stoner

The race wasn't exactly earth shattering, and Casey Stoner didn't surprise anyone by winning...with Aragon in the bag, it was back to the house.

A cava moment with Casey Stoner

With my flights to Barcelona that would take me to Amsterdam leaving on Tuesday afternoon, I had all day Monday to futz around and take it easy. So, I left the house about 1pm and drove over a huge range of mountains to coast and the seaside town of Peñíscola. It was just a zip trip to snag some photos of the castle on the Mediterranean (and I was reliably informed that this was the location for the making of the film El Cid by David Emmett) and so with some images captured I took the long route back to the house.

The castle at Peniscola

Returning in time to finish up dinner and celebrate Jules and Bernadettes wedding anniversary. Which was a rather nice way to cap off a wonderful week in the Spanish interior.

The view from room 503 at CitizenM

Tuesday, I would drive to airport. Eventually find my good friend Abel, have lunch, board my flight to Amsterdam and then spend a nice evening in my favourite hip-hotel at Schipol, CitizenM. The next day it would be an easy walk to the airport and eventually home.

Padron peppers - happy anniversary to Jules and Bernadette

Next up, Australia, Malaysia...but for now, I am enjoying my time at home.

......48

2011-09-05T02:46:00.000-07:00

Shoya Tomizawa - Qatar 2010

Racing is dangerous. The week before 'we" lost the lovely Peter Lenz at Indianapolis, the sadness continued at Misano when "we" lost Shoya Tomizawa. It was too much really. When there's a death at a race track the air changes, the velocity at which things happen slows down to where you feel you're in some weird time warp. We're made painfully aware in a very short space of time how fragile life is. For me, I think it wasn't a bad idea not to have a memorial at the race track. Racing is about going forward, an optimistic sport where one is always looking to get to the front to win. Everyone who enters or partakes in this sport, or any motorsport where high speed and hard objectives fly together knows the risks.

As I mentioned way back when the incident happened (on this blog). I met Shoya when I had to shoot some images for Motorcycle Racer Magazine. Polite, kind and with a permagrin on his face. Although I can't say I knew him well, but from that point onwards there was always a good morning and a nod when you passed him in the paddock. Anyways, if someone comes across this post then it's worth remembering that it's always a good point to leave people with good memories of oneself, when that day comes it would be nice to know that people missed "you" in the same way as people miss this talented and rather pleasant young man.

Indianapolis, Spies, Stoner, Rossi, AC and the flu

2011-09-02T00:37:00.000-07:00

It was hot.

Casey Stoner

I thought the flu would be done and gone by the time the trip to Indy rolled around. I guess I was wrong. In fact the flu I contracted during the weekend at Brno, simply got worse. The high temperatures and never ending air conditioning (AC) everywhere only served to cause me to think that I had actually spent my whole life working in a mine and had gone down with emphysema. Every time I started to cough it never stopped, and never stopped, and never stopped and then only finally stopped when my lungs had completely expelled all the air contained within and I was dizzy from lack of oxygen. Fortunately for me Bob Starr at Yamaha had very kindly arranged for me to have a scooter.

Dani Pedrosa coming at me during the first lap

This was the first time in as long as I could remember that Emily would not be joining me for the race weekend due to school and work obligations. So this would be the trip where I would not get to see her in over two weeks. Something that does not fill me with joy. However, I would spend the weekend with a good friend Nic Coury who is a journalist at the Monterey County Weekly. So the company was more than welcome, and also it does help keep the costs down by being able to split the cost of food, accommodations and transportation.

Colin Edwards

I may have mentioned it somewhere else before, but Indy is a very challenging location to shoot racing. The lack of service roads, having to negotiate crowds whilst on a scooter and lack of locations to shoot the track from can make for rather repetitive imagery. So there's a need to really test ones creative skills when working there.

Gorls

So the weekend was hot. The surface of infield section of the track had been repaved and was subsequently rather greasy for the riders. The weather being so hot made me almost wish for the rain we had the year before, only because it adds another dimension to the imagery, and it does make life a little more tolerable, even if one has to deal with wet weather gear, protective covers and the lack of convenience that dry weather allows.

Simoncelli

Once again all eyes were on Ben Spies, but also on Hayden and the other American Colin Edwards. This is the second home race of the season and as we remember, both Hayden and Spies have done well here in the past. Did I mention it was hot over the weekend? One thing you always forget about when you visit this huge concrete and steel structures is the residual heat that is reradiated back up from the concrete.

Tom, Greg and Ben, parc ferme

But it would turn out to be a weekend that neither Nicky Hayden or Valentino Rossi will want to remember...especially when it came to race day.....

Valentino Rossi

As I mentioned above, good friend Nic Coury was joining me for the weekend and was having a blast. having never seen all three classes at one race (Laguna only has the GP class) it was a firs for him. But boy howdy did that guy not need a scooter. He walked everywhere and I was suitably impressed by the energy output! Plus, he captured some really different images.Race day came, and even though it was dominated by Casey Stoner, with Dani Pedrosa coming in second, it was good to see Ben made it to the podium again for his home race.

The Pagoda and pitlane, race day morning

After getting up at 4am to run Nic to the airport for his trip back to California, I went back to the hotel, back to bed for a couple of hours and then packed up the car, headed to the airport and left for Italy and the next round from Misano on the Adriatic which is where I am writing this from now.

Italian country spicy sausage and vegetable soup, Indy style

However, even though I wasn't feeling too chipper, I still managed to crank out some fine dinners for us over the weekend in Indianapolis...however, I might just add, the blueberry bagels do not go too well with a country style sausage and vegetable soup, but they worked somewhat.

Thanks for reading..

MotoGP is back! Stoner flies and Brno gets some colour...

2011-08-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Pretty.

When I first came to Brno, the apartment blocks you see in the distance were grey. Each time I visit some more of the apartment blocks have been painted, the colour just beams out during sunset as the suns' rays hit their structures. For me I love this view....at the end of this entry, you'll see an early morning sunrise over the same...

Saturday morning, damn track and some overambitious braking caused this little moment. He was unhurt, but the skill is in the eyes. Note; that as much as the bike has left its designed position (upright) he is still focussed on the upcoming left hander. Quite amazing, and even as the bike hits the ground, the next shot shows how he continues to look through he corner....

This was my fourth trip back to the Czech Republic for MotoGP. Each year it gets better and better. I stay in the same lovely apartment in a village just on the edge of Brno, near where the old GP track used to run. It's a short drive to the track, it's peaceful at night and the folks that own the property are simply the kindest, even going so far as to ask if we needed anything washed (Andrew Northcott shares with me here).

I arrived into Prague on the Tuesday, and after the two-hour drive to Brno, I get settled in and go food shopping (as I do everywhere). Come back, make dinner, chat with Emily and head off to bed. The next day I would take a trip to a castle boskovického hradu), similar to what I did a couple of years ago. It's a nice drive through the countryside and small villages with pastel coloured pointy roof houses, whilst watching out for the rather exuberant Czech driver (I have a Opel Astra diesel which isn't sluggish - but I'm determined to not draw the attention of the local police on this trip...plus I'm in no hurry).

The castle at boskovického hradu is privately owned and is a little "rusty" but after a nice stroll up a 1 in 4 hill the view is worth it...however, i decided to not stay too long as is this case in this region, thunder storms brew up pretty fast, and with that comes lightning. Even you regular homes have lightning conductors all over the roof as the storm they get around here can be extremely violent...

By Thursday I had started feeling somewhat ropy, and as it would turn out by race day I had a full-blown flu. Ugh. Fortunately getting around this huge track, and it is huge, wasn't too bad as I had wheels. Friday the weather was okay, not too hot, but Saturday, as we expected we ended up having rain, however, it blew through and so qualifying wasn't going to be a wet event.

During the morning, and with a rather greasy and wet track it caught a few people out. Sadly, John Hopkins, who had a good Friday practice, would dump his bike in the same spot as Casey Stoner but would fare as well, breaking three fingers and putting him out of contention for Saturday afternoons qualifying. Which, considering his return to racing and taking things a little more seriously, has been impressive. So many people were hoping good things for him from this weekend.

Race day arrives, with Dani Pedrosa on pole, Jorge Lorenzo second on the front row with Casey taking up third spot. Ben Spies being fourth.

Sadly the race would go Dani's way and Jorge had front tyre issues. Ben, suffering a pinched nerve in his necked valiantly battled to fifth.

Marco Simoncelli would come out of the weekend by being the talk of race by actually getting on the podium, and not by race track antics and was obviously very pleased with his efforts.

Sunday, race weekend done and dusted some would leave to head home, and a few would remain for the tests that were scheduled for the Monday. Even though I wasn't feeling too chipper, there's something rather nice about not having any pressure to shoot and get a narrative of a race weekend when it comes to testing. So I simply took it easy and took pictures from places I had yet to discover or use from around the track. Being that I was leaving around 1 or 2pm to head back to my overnight hotel in Prague, I decided that I'd just shoot track.

So initially there were the old 800's running around, and then Ben popped out on his black clad Yamaha M1 2012 1000, Rossi and Hayden were runnign around still working on bits and bobs for the Ducati and Mika Kallio was out on the CRT Suter Marc VDS BMW powered MotoGP machine (which looked and sounded rather good) and the Jorge arrived on his black clad Yamaha M1 1000. The Honda's were out runnign around but in reality, there really wasn't any visual clues as to how different they were from their old 800 models.

So that was pretty much it. I stayed at the Monastery Hotel in Prague, as I do every trip prior to the trip home from the airport, had a lovely stay. Ate in the brewery next door and went to bed happy. Still not feeling that good, but knowing I was going home. Which is always a good thing.

Sadly the next couple of weeks are going to be a little testing. Indianapolis is next, then I fly on to Bologna for the MotoGP at Misano. Hopefully the races will not be as tragic as last years at either event. Then home for a few days before leaving for Spain yet again. I love my wife Emily. I miss her so much when I travel.

Currently available wall decorations.....

2011-08-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

....now that I seem to have this blog thing back under control, I thought I'd just mention on here that I do have a few things available for purchase....simply click on the links for more information...

Click here for the 2008 Limited Edition VR46 canvas print
now only two left....

Click here for the 2011 Limited Edition VR46 canvas print
they're quite popular...

Click here for theNicky Hayden Laguna Seca 2006 Stars and Stripes
and this will be around for a few days more.

News Update! Ben Spies Official Biography - Taking It to the Next Level

2011-07-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

Ben Spies Biography - Taking It To The Next Level - Book Cover Photo by Andrew Wheeler AutoMotoPhoto

Just a quick "flash update" to the blog (I'm trying to be proactive now...). I am thrilled to announce that this is my first book cover in MotoGP and the subject matter couldn't be any closer to my old AMA roots. It's the cover of Ben Spies' autobiography! The image was taken at Catalunya earlier this year. Well, that's it!

You can find out more information about the title as well as details on purchasing this book here on Ben Spies' Official website.

I'm still here in MotoGP! Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Spies, Stoner are too!

2011-07-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

Since March and my last update, we've had wins by Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Ben Spies!

Cadiz

That said, I suppose you could call this an update, a recap, or perhaps an admission that I've neglected this blog or as of today I finally realised that I have gotten to the end of July and I'm still covering MotoGP.....something that at the beginning of 2011 wasn't looking too promising. It's still not as financially lucrative as I'd like and by no means perfect, but I do believe in looking forward, being optimistic and for me, I feel I still have a lot more to tell about this sport, the people, the travel and of course, the food...this update isn't going to be a long winded philosophical waffle about nothing, I'm simply going to fast forward through the past four months of racing, race travel and location/lifestyle..and I'm going to really, really try to at least make a concerted effort over the upcoming race weeks and races that I attend to add at least something that doesn't exist on the Andrew Wheeler-AutoMotoPhoto facebook page, but do feel free to sign up and join in the fun.

Since March, I have traveled to Spain (twice), Portugal, UK and Italy. In an attempt to balance work/life, I skipped Assen in Holland (much to my chagrin as Ben Spies won) and the Sachsenring in Germany. The most recent race at Laguna Seca is a home race. It's so close to home I can sleep in my own bed each evening and is always a good weekend.

Jerez in Spain is one of my favourite places to visit for a race weekend. It is also considered the "first MotoGP race" as it's the first race on European soil. Qatar always feels somewhat like an exhibition race, or rather a novelty event and even though I enjoy going there, it's nice to arrive back in Europe. Jerez is beautiful city, wonderful people and the climate is perfect. Warm days, warm evenings and vibrant. Aside from a little run in with the Guardia Civil following an errant u-turn, and then cop thinking we were going to do a runner (which was sort of ridiculous considering both David Emmett (of Motomatters.com) and I had our Dorna passes and our parking banner visible in the car) that little indiscretion cost me €100 and about 40 minutes of standing around on a roundabout about 5km from the track. The weekend wasn't as warm as it had been in the past and we had rain on race day. Cold rain, which is becoming a "feature" of a race weekend.

Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo would go onto to win the MotoGP race. Many of the fans in attendance came to get their first glimpse of Valentino Rossi on the Ducati...but his fans are going to have to find some resolve and patience as the year rolls on.

Valentino Rossi

..With the massive earthquake in Japan causing the postponement of the race at Motegi, Dani Pedrosa would head back to hospital to fix a previous "fix" that was causing some issues as it would be almost a month until the next race in Estoril. I would head back to California.

Time travel is great. Back to Portugal for the race at Estoril a month later. I'm always tickled by the variety of rental cars I end up with on these junkets. I only ever rent from Hertz. I've had Mercedes, Volvo's, BMW's, Lancia's and Audi's. So this upgrade was a new Mini Clubman estate! After a last minute suggestion of "why don't you join me for the race weekend" I was joined by Canadian motorcycle racer Vicki Schouten. It's nice having some company when I'm away from home. We spend a day just whizzing around in the Mini and we end up visiting the castles at Sintra.

Castelo dos Mouros

There is a Moorish castle (Castelo dos Mouros) on one outcrop of rock, and on the opposing outcrop of rock the Pena National Palace....so we did a good hike around the old remains (until lightning and an approaching thunderstorm made us think twice about being so exposed...) and then took a swift drive of about 500m to the Pena National Palace and had a nice afternoons walk around this funky looking castle.

Pena National Palace

Again the weather played it's part in the weekend. Dani Pedrosa returns to the "pack" and is swamped by journalists asking, no, pestering him about his fixed collarbone and to whether or not he'll be fit enough to race over the weekend. What's even funnier is that I have been working with Don Emde and Parts Unlimited Europe and we decide to put together a feature on Dani Pedrosa for an upcoming magazine that Don edits. I decide to take a different approach with the interview and simply go with asking Dani about himself, the words and pictures can be viewed here. What was really cool was that Dani would go onto win the race at Estoril. Saving himself for a last gasp pass on Jorge Lorenzo. Never under estimate how these chaps deal with pain!

Dani Pedrosa

.I would not go to Le Mans due to a number of reasons. Mainly because I wanted to have some time at home with Emily, but time does fly again, and it's back to Barcelona and the race at Montmelo!

Segrada Familia

I love this town. With my good friend Bonnie Lane, and my super cool amigo, and talented Catalan Abel Cruz Ayuso we go looking for dongles, we spend the day after the race weekend having a diggy diggy moment driving around Barcelona, which only added to another wonderful race weekend at another favourite track of mine!

Montmelo

Not the most exciting of races but nonetheless, always some entertainment but for me, the track is loaded with photo opportunities and colour. It's a track where a scooter is handy, especially for race days. But it's also a track where walking can produce some exciting images as well

Casey Stoner

But for me this weekend was even more exciting as it would be the first time that Ben Spies would get onto the podium.

Ben Spies

So for me, and the fact that I have followed him through the AMA, WSBK and now MotoGP it was a good thing to see. I also know how happy it made "Maio", Tom, Woody, Gavin and the entire team happy as well it was onto Silverstone. Personally, I wish that Catalunya had come after Silverstone as I prefer to leave from Spain vs leaving from the UK..but there you. Silverstone wasn't the happy trip I usually have as my mother was moved from the UK to France just before I arrived, which in part was the only reason I would visit the UK, otherwise I would've skipped this race and gone to Assen instead..but there you you.

Country Cottage

That said the week was good, the company was excellent as I shared this house with Bonnie Lane, her hoosbund Chris and their friend Tim (who I had met on a previous trip to the UK). So it did turn out to be a good week, even if I was a little gloomy and cranky but of course, the weekend would turn out to be wet aside from the Saturday....

Jorge Lorenzo

It's funny how one's moods affect how one sees things. i really did feel cranky, gloomy whatever. In part because it's the one trip a year I have the chance to see my mum and that didn't happen. It costs enough as it is to travel to cover these events from the other side of the globe vs how my peers cover the races with a hop skip and a jump from a European airport. So it's a good thing when I can get to do things such as visiting my Mum which is nigh on impossible to accommodate and include it as a business trip any other time of the year.

Herve Poncheral - Colin Edwards

Race day was miserable. Wet, cold..wet and cold..windy. But for me the man of the match, or of the race was Colin Edwards. Being yet another victim of the now trendy "Broken Collarbone Club" along with Pedrosa and with fellow Tech3 rider Cal Crutchlow buying his membership the day before during an off, he stuck it out and finished third.

Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner won the race, but for me Colin won the weekend. We won't go into too much chatter about my non attendance at Assen. Factor in the fact that my trip to the UK didn't go as usually planned, and then Ben Spies ended up WINNING his first MotoGP race and I wasn't there to witness it. If I had skipped Silverstone and had plumped for Assen I'd have witnessed it. Instead, I simply sat on the sofa next to my wife and was miserable all day Sunday. Happy for Ben though, but felt sorry for myself as a result. Oh well, as they say. That's racing. Next. Italy and the madness that is Mugello.

Tuscany

This was the view from our little villa in a tiny village near Corella in the Tuscan hills. 2200' above sea level and a nice 25 minute drive to the track. The owners were wonderful, the house was superbly comfortable and even though we (David Emmett and I) had some fun and games with the Internet our hosts were extremely helpful in trying to find a solution for us. So much so, Emily and I are going to head back there next year and have a holiday after the race weekend. Oh, and speaking of race weekends, this is one of the craziest on the calendar. Close to Bologna, (about an hours drive) and only 30 minutes or so from Florence.

Duomo - Florence

The racetrack is located in some of the most beautiful countryside on the planet. It is also home to some of the finest FOOD on the planet

Butchers - Bologna

...and of course home to one of the finest motorcycles on the planet...can I add any more planets? It's why it's worth working hard to try and include some of this magnificent landscape into the race images for example..

Valentino Rossi

It's also another track that can pay you dividends in just simply walking vs having a scooter. I would like to add that on race days a scooter is pretty much essential and so when I'm not able to obtain one (for example, Maio Meregalli, who is the race team manager for the Factory Yamaha team, is always kind enough to see if there is a way for me to borrow a scooter, but at Mugello, with an Italian based race team and Italian sponsors/guests to keep happy makes it nigh on impossible for me to be allowed to have one) I am grateful for Andrew Northcott and his kindness in shuttling me around the track for the GP race..other than that, it's a great track to walk. As is now a tradition on each Saturday morning at Mugello. Valentino Rossi showcases a new "paintjob" that is done specifically for this race. Last year the helmet didn't really get much of a showing because it was here where he had a huge crash and broke his leg. This year, was pretty much dram free and it was the "evil eye" helmet that made an appearance.

Valentino Rossi

We had the obligatory rain over the weekend but the Sunday was lovely and aside from Jorge Lorenzo winning the what was to be a good race for him, it was local lad Andrea Dovizioso who also put on a good show and came in second with Honda rider Casey Stone coming third

Andrea Dovizioso

No Valentino Rossi on the podium, so the madness was a little more subdued until he decided to come out and visit the crowds. Speaking of crowds. You do not want to get stuck within these crowds...hot sweaty people doing daft things with scooters, motorcycles and fireworks. Plus there is the claustrophobia aspect of it all, and yes, I got stuck in this crowd, but after 20 minutes or so of working my way out through the crowd I was able to make it into the media centre and snag this picture of Rossi (in the open space area) heading back from his crowd visit)

Fans

. Monday would be spent packing up and having another little drive around the countryside following a trip back to Bologna to drop of David Emmett. Tuesday morning it would be back on a plane to spend the night in Amsterdam with Gavin and his fiance Floortje..a nice dinner at a funky restaurant near their apartment

Vegas!

The following day it was back on a plane, back home. I would skip the MotoGP race at Sachsenring and plump for some decent time at home with my wife, and with MotoGP being at Laguna Seca that would mean a nice long break at home.

Tom

Laguna Seca is always a fun race weekend. Thursdays are a great day to meet folk as it's "laid back day" and there are many promotional images being shot on the pitlane.

Factory Yamaha Team

I get a chance to spend time with Emily at home, I also get the opportunity to catch up with many of the fine people who work within the AMA where I started out. I'm glad I started my motorcycle and motorsport photography within the AMA verses simply going straight to MotoGP or World Superbike as it allowed me to be able to create images at race tracks that aren't all as pretty or as photogenic as many of the race tracks on the GP circuit. If anyone is thinking of starting out in the business, I'd say shoot the national series first before trying to make it in the GP world. You'll not only develop a greater understanding of your subject, but you'll develop the ability to be able to deal with less than perfect vistas...I mean, I'd like to think even I can make Fontana look pretty!

Gorls

The weekend went well for me, aside from a small scooter mix up the weekend was warm once the fog burned off, the crowds were rather large especially on race day and of course Casey Stoner won again.

Casey Stoner

Following a huge highside on Saturday Jorge Lorenzo not only took pole but finished a healthy second. Dani Pedrosa took third.

Dani Pedrosa

I'd also like to say a huge thank you to Nic Coury at the Monterey County Weekly. A few weeks prior he interviewed me for the paper and the feature was published on the Thursday of race week. The online version of the interview can be viewed here and the in print version looked like this...

"in print" pdf version

Well, that's it for this update (or rather story...)..and so I will try to keep this a little more current that it has been for the past four months. I leave you all for now with this shot of a group of people who came to the "Great Laguna Seca Meetup" on the Saturday evening. This was the highlight of my weekend as it's so nice to put a face to a name. Thank you to all...until the next one at Brno perhaps?

Friends

Ciao for now!

MotoGP Qatar Round1..Rossi, Spies, Stoner, Lorenzo and Camels...

2011-03-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

This was the first time on my trip to Qatar to cover MotoGP that I actually witnessed camels free and wild in the desert. We had a side trip up to the fort at Al-Zubarah and there were many many camels just wandering around...one doesn't get too close by the way...

So as not to get too race "reporty" as pretty much anyone can find that stuff out there anyways, I'll just add what the week gave us. We had old riders on new teams, new riders on new teams and teams that didn't take to the track due to accidents, Bautista...poor chap.

As before we visited the Souq Waqif in Doha, the Islamic Museum of Art and ate like kings for very little expense. Eating out is extremely cheap in Doha, as is simply food shopping. I guess when you cannot purchase beer and wine it keeps the cost down!!

Back to the track, I discovered a new spot to shoot from which allowed for the black of night to create a wonderful contrast to the sparkliness (is that a word?) of the lights bouncing off the fairings

and really made the bikes shine. I really enjoyed seeing Ben Spies and his new matt black HJC helmet..but what shooting under the darkness give you is more of the "stuff" you won't see under daylight..such as flames, glowing exhausts and the other imagery that is lost to the brght sky.

With that image, I will just add one more post above and then I must head off to Jerez for round 2 of the championship...The moon was also out and giving us a visual treat too....

I'll leave you with a link to a little vignette that was done for MotoGP.com at Losail, with yours truly. I actually talk for over 7 minutes!! Click here to be taken to YouTube to watch Andrew Wheelerand some visual fun!

MotoGP is almost under way...

2011-03-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

With pre-season testing almost done, and with the racing season about to kick off, I thought it would be nice to have a recap from the season opener from 2010....

I don't really have a lot to add..the pictures should really tell a story..

For me personally it's a push pull emotionally. I love what I do, but hate leaving Emily and our little furry family behind. I am always grateful for the friendship of others, race fans and fellow paddock folk alike...

Watch this space and see you soon...and make sure to say HI..

Just for fun! A quick post to request nominations for the Shorty Awards!

2011-01-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

It's a little bit of fun, but also twinged with a bit of seriousness. My goal since I started this journey was to get more people to see, or see through my eyes, this beautiful sport of motorcycle racing, especially here in the USA. My home for the past 20+ years.

Just click on the image over there >

So it doesn't take long, but so far I/we are up to third spot in the #art category...so let's see if we can get a little higher. Thank you for reading. Oh, and Wrooom with Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Fernando Alonso and Massa will be happening in Italy on Monday.

Wish I was there too..! Thank you! Now please vote!

Goodbye and thank you RoadRacerX...

2011-01-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

I had seven cover images with RoadRacerX magazine during the last five years.

Normally the end of the year is filled with anticipation. Yes, things change and a new year ushers in a feeling of rebirth. On Friday, New Years Eve a magazine with which I have worked with since I started shooting motorcycle racing closed it's doors. My photographs appeared many times in this magazine (and online)so much so that I am grateful that through RoadRacerX I was able to secure additional work and visibility I possibly wouldn't have attained anywhere else. Working alongside Chris Jonnum and Laurel Allen ("CJ and "LCA" respectively) I covered many of the world major racing series as a "retained" freelancer.

This image of Eric Bostrom was one of my favourites and was the first image used in what would become an annual tradition from thereon out. RoadRacerX's Pictures Of The Year feature which would highlight photos from such greats as Andrew Northcott and Mirco Lazzari to name a few...I would go on to have numerous opening spreads featured in this magazine along with many many others, along with assignments and opportunities as a result. I wrote two features for the magazine. One of Ben Spies when he burst onto the world stage in the World Superbike series in 2009 where I interviewed him at Phillip Island in Australia. Earlier this year, 2010, I would again visit Phillip Island where I would interview Roger Hayden (brother of Nicky Hayden) and Jason DiSalvo on their championship attempts at World Superbike. Again I would supply the text and the images for the feature. Yes I can write too!!

My proudest moment though came with the my first ever cover on a magazine in the USA, my adopted home. It was a picture of fellow countryman Neil Hodgson, aboard the Parts Unlimited Ducati Superbike. I still get a chill when I look at the cover, knowing how I felt at the time. With that I will simply say. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of one of the best road racing magazines on the planet. With some fo the best people working inside it's covers. Thank you.

Valentino Rossi - RoadRacerX Pictures of the Year 2010 - Canvas Print

2010-12-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Returning to some good blog update habits! Yet again, another image was picked and featured in RoadRacerX magazines Pictures Of The Year annual selection.

The shot was taken at Jerez, and is of Valentino Rossi coming up hill with a carpet of bright yellow daisies providing a subtle contrast to the image.

With this in mind, I have decided to offer a 20x30 version of this image on canvas for sale. Bearing in mind that Valentino Rossi will never be riding the Yamaha M1 every again, this could be a perfect opportunity to own something a little unique. To order and for other details click here Until January the 1st, I will also include one of my groovy calendars (see below) to the lucky buyer(s) (featuring a GP rider of your choice). My 2010 AutoMotoPhoto Motorcycle Annual Review is also almost here...more info on that in due course...

Happy New Year to everyone. Thank you for the support. I look forward to seeing you in 2011.

Time Travel, Lorenzo wins MotoGP, Rossi moves to Ducati. I launch a calender...

2010-12-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

Facebook and Twitter have become my realtime place for updates, and so I am simply going to announce my Calendar, and that my 2010 AutoMotoPhoto Review is almost complete. I will review my year in MotoGP next week during the Christmas period and I'll also put together a slideshow of images I have a partial liking to for you viewing please...

In the meantime, if you wish to order a calendar, and it can be a single rider specific calender, please feel free to request as such when you purchase. Once you go through the checkout procedure there is an area whereby you can send comments to the seller (that's me). If you need a country specific calendar with your public holidays, please also specify, otherwise it will arrive without any dates aside fromt he dates of the month!

To order the calendar simply click on this link and you'll be whisked away to a new page...

My website, AutoMotoPhoto is now update with all races covered through 2010.

That's all for now...more to come in the next week with published examples, pdf's you name it!.

I'd also like to thank everyone who took the time to look at my work, comment on my work, but more importantly, make an effort to come and say HI to me at races weekends. You'll never know how much that means to me. Also a big thank you to the publishers around the globe who chose to use my work. Thank you. IT really helps my bottom line as well!

So feel free to follow me on Twitter or become a fan and interact with like minded people, and yours truly here on my Facebook Fan page.

Have a great Christmas everyone. Hug someone you love and smile at everyone you see.

Short but sweet. Back to the track. Back to the drama. Valentino Rossi. Did he or didn't he?

2010-08-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Sunflowers say summer to me.

Three weeks home is a sufficiently long enough break from travelling to ruin my ability to avoid getting jet lag. Since February I have been travelling and covering motorcycle racing. No jet lag, just maybe a bit weary of travelling through airports, but in general, it has been good. You find a rhythm, a week or ten days at home (USA), then it's off to some other destination again. But I find that I have avoided jet leg and have done quiet well.

Being home allows all the fibres of your mind and body relax, settle into the time zone with which you are familiar and you suddenly feel stress free. No counting down days until you fly again, leave home and every comfort within. So tomorrow (August 8), I leave for Prague and the last half of the MotoGP season begins in earnest next weekend from Brno.

The Laguna Seca weekend was a blast. Even more so because that rather talented lanky Italian motorcycle racer was back on track and we had four Americans in the line up, someone to cheer for. Nicky Hayden, Ben Spies, Colin Edwards and that wild card guy Roger Hayden who was standing in for an injured Randy De Puniet. The carnival atmosphere had returned. Much to the delight of everyone. Lorenzo would win the race, with some entertainment being provided by the Italian National Anthem being played for the winner, instead of the Spanish Anthem or Lorenzo's country , whether planned or in error it was taken in good humour by everyone.

For me, the highlight of the weekend at Laguna was taking some time to actually catch up and meet people in the AMA I hadn't seen all year. Mechanics, riders, friends, my entire family! People with whom I spent so many years and who always have time for fans, people, photographers you name it. It was brilliant. I'm pleased the racing has started to climb back from the darkness of 2009, and hope that fans come out and support the racing. Else it'll go away, and we can't have that in America.

With that in mind, I have to finish packing and do some odds and ends. Thanks to Mo and Randy for you know what...!

My main website, AutoMotoPhoto is now up to date. As time allows I am also updating my Facebook Fan page with archives of race images I have taken over the last five years so please invite others to join and have some fun with others! Last but not least, if you really have nothing better to do and want to read more verbiage, I'm also on Twitter, so why not follow me for some rapid fire wit!

Thanks to everyone at Yamaha for the support and continued interest in using my work for advertising too. More updates, food and pictures from the Czech Republic next week!

Adios Amigos!

Rossi is back, Laguna Seca is here, Catalunya, Lorenzo and AutoMotoPhoto have an update!

2010-07-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

I promise, I'll get this together and add more meat and potatoes after each weekend.

But for now, I'm home, at home, in my own house, for Laguna Seca. The treat for me is being able to simply drive to the racetrack, and come home each evening. At home.

AT HOME!

So many people think this job is glamorous, or "living the dream" as some like to say, but in all honesty it's a job like any other job, but one of choice, or maybe it is necessity. For example, Tom Houseworth and Gregg Wood, who are Crew Chief and super sexy guy in the garage respectively, haven't been home for over 52 days. Now in a military sense, that's nothing, but in civvy street, that can be a long time. Thankfully we have so many ways to communicate with the ones we love, but nothing beats being there.

Catalunya, was a hoot. With David Emmett from Motomatters

(and we'd be joined at the weekend by his lovely wife). Nadia and Katerina from Intramoto, a Russian motorcycle racing new website, throw in a lovely house in Badalona, some funky German transport (an E Class Mercedes) and some (sometimes too) warm weather, we had the perfect week.

So this little blog update is for those who miss home, be they racers or those who look after the racer, their families, military folk, whoever, trust me it's nice to be home, and I'm really looking forward to being able to cover a race weekend, and then come home to my own bed.

To round off this blog, picture #11 of #11 of my limited edition print is being auctioned off for the Day of Stars at Laguna Seca tomorrow at 4pm, at turn 4. There are still 3 more copies left to buy, and then that it's..just go here. On a cool fun note, and not that it's anything important on the grand scale of things, but I'm very grateful that over 2000 people think I'm worthy of their support. For that I am very grateful, and I hope to add more value to your "like-ship" in the weeks to come. To see more visit Andrew Wheeler - AutoMotoPhoto "Like" page on Facebook.

Again, my apologies for the brevity. I have a pork loin that's roasting. Stay tuned….

Andrew Wheeler's 2009 AutoMotoPhoto Review is still available...

2010-06-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

yes it is...

..and has now pictures of the finished item (which I have neglected to post before)...

..and you can purchase a copy simply by clicking here

Back to the UK, for the fifth time, (in twenty years). Oh and GO BEN (Spies)

2010-06-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

It didn't rain.

Going to the UK just doesn't have the same "pull" as gong to Spain for me. I grew up there. It does mean I can stop in and see my Mum, and I had a super time seeing her, even taking time out to take her out to dinner to the George at Bathampton. Oddly enough, it was this same country pub that I took my Dad to the day before I left the UK for good on September 4, 1990. It was really nice seeing her looks so well. She has a new house in Larkhall, and for the first time in years seems to have a good positive outlook on life. Which thrills me no end. It was with some sadness I left her on Tuesday morning to drive to Woking for the first overnight stay en route to Silverstone, where I'd be staying with good friend Bonnie Lane.

On Wednesday, we'd go to Brooklands Museum near Weybridge and spend a good four hours walking around the museum (and graveyard) of British racing and aviation. It's a really cool place to visit, with some of the old banked race track still in existence. It doesn't take too much of a stretch to imagine the nerves of steel these racers had during those early days of racing, on two and four wheels. When one thinks of the levels of safety that are built into todays motorsport, the driver aids, run off, Dainese instant inflatable leather race suits for example, the lack of so many of these safety features back then only adds to the cojones these racers must've had..(or lack thereof) because women raced as much as they do these days.

With the British MotoGP being previously held at Donington, it is simply shifts all the events that were held at that track over to the new digs at Silverstone. I had heard one funny story about one of the race teams truck drivers made a huge deja vu moment and drove almost to Donington, realising when he had got to Birmngham that he was meant to be going to Silverstone. Therefore, as it's Thursday it must be the Day of Champions at Silverstone. This is always a great event with a great cause, to raise money for the Riders for Health cause. As before, riders and many others donate memorabilia, items of clothing, art and so forth to be auctioned off to raise much needed funds to allow Rider For Health to continue their efforts to bring health care to those in places who cannot or may not have access to it.

Having been granted in Mugello a 2010 season scooter pass. I now have access to scooter. Does this mean I have arrived in MotoGP? Who knows. After your camera equipment, access to a scooter is the next most valuable tool in a photographers arsenal. With scooter beneath me, I head off to do a reconnoiter of the track. It ends up being nearly two and half hours of going round, looking for photo possibilities to shoot. As with all the photographers and the riders, this is a new track to all. I end up meeting Jorge Lorenzo and Hector on track as they're discussing the lines that he'll need to take around the track.

As many of the photographers would discover, it wouldn't just be where to take photos that would be the problem. As the weekend progressed it would be a question of dealing with the security, and those who appeared to enjoy their jobs a little too much and wanted to make life difficult, that would be the greatest obstacle to overcome. The lack of a decent service road, or road that circumnavigates the track away from spectators would also create more problems with people who took great pleasure in telling everyone to "slow down".

Race day was cold. I mean it was very cold but would throughout the day improve and warm up. The only problem with such a huge facility is that it will never look full. It's no different than Indianapolis when the GP is being held there. It is such a huge site, with so many seats that cannot be filled that it will never look well attended, when in reality it is. The support for the the British riders Scott Redding in Moto2, and for Bradley Smith and Danny Webb in the 125cc class was loud and very obvious. There was also the huge support for the non existent Valentino Rossi, obvious with the number of coloured wigs, yellow number 46 flags and of course, the obligatory get well signs everywhere. Something I have only witnessed in the Spanish rounds, was the fans clapping as the riders came round during the race. I like this and think it's a nice touch.

But again, the difficulty with getting around the track, combined with the lack of communication and understanding (of security) of who has access to where only made what could've been a good weekend, a very long and trying weekend instead. Hopefully, somethings might've been learned, and changes may be put in place for those covering the World Superbike round at Silverstone in a few weeks.

I decided to skip Assen to have a week at home being that I haven't had a full weekend at home for almost two months, and I still leave on Sunday for Barcelona. Annoyingly, I broke my own rule and had a beef sandwich at the airport in Detroit. Just a word of warning about travelling via DTW. I have never ever witnessed such appallingly slow passport control. After arriving on time, and arriving in the controlled area at 12.50pm, it took until 2.10pm to clear customs and baggage transfer and to go onto my gate. If i didn't have the almost three hour window I had between flights, I'd have missed my connection. Appalling slow, cumbersome TSA and I really didn't appreciate being X-rayed using their Joe90tron machine with other people looking on. I thought this process had to have some dignity?

/Rant over. OH! Go Ben...

Last but not least, thank you to Bonnie Lane and her husband Chris as well as George Martin for being such wonderful hosts during my trip back to the UK. Miss you Mum! Next. Off to Barcelona for MotoGP. Actually, I just updated this blog whilst flying over Nebraska at 35000ft...haha! Hilarious.

Catching up. Part3. Mugello, Rossi, Gelato and a little Russian glamour

2010-06-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

Italy is beautiful.

After three plane transfers, Salt Lake to Minneapolis, then Minneapolis to Amsterdam onto Bologna, I'm more than happy to sit outside the airport and wait for Mr Motomatters, AKA David Emmett to arrive. We'll be sharing the travelling and a villa in Tuscany whilst we cover the Grand Prix at Mugello. Unbeknownst to us we arrive on June 2nd. Which is a national holiday in Italy and it is only when we arrive at our villa are we informed by Simone, the villa owner, that all the shops are closed. Hmm, we have no food, water, BEER, whatever. He did mentioned that there might be some shops open int he centre of Florence/Firenze, so without further ado, we set off into the heart of Firenze in search of things to eat.

The centre of Florence is now a permit only access city, however, on holidays, it's okay to drive into the city centre. So we did. Fortunately, we found some shops open and were able to at least buy exactly what we needed to create dinner for that evening. We also had a lightning, commando photo stop tour, in other words pulling up, stopping, hopping out the car, taking photos, and then back into the car and off again fortunate in the fact that there was very little traffic. A rare event indeed. With a gelato to round off the the arrival walkabout it was back to base.

Thursday, late afternoon, I spent a couple of hours in the company of Nadia Giletti. Having walked around on the Tuesday with David Emmett, I spent a couple of hours walking around Florence with Nadia taking photos (of her). Exploring a side of photography that is new to me and one I'd like to pursue in greater depth. I was fortunate enough that Nadia was happy to be my subject. No, in reality I was thrilled. She has a presence and is very comfortable with herself, which made taking photographs of her in situ, with large groups of people looking on, very easy. For me, it is something I have to overcome as I always feel I'll peeling back the layers of people. I always feel like I'm intruding on someones privacy. That said. Thursday was a good day.

There aren't may words to describe Tuscany. The feeling about being in the countryside has a greater effect on the senses than words can describe. From the fireflies in the evening, the soft warm early morning light. The little tuffs of fluff that seem to be a part of the air in the Italian countryside. The softness of the air. It's immersive. Everything from the start of the day through to the end has colour. The trip to the track took us along single lane roads that were devilishly winding, in places with drop offs that wouldn't be good for the car. On the way back form the track in the evenings, we would drive pass torch lit entrance ways to 17th century hilltop castles.

With the hillsides covered in olive trees. Houses covered in rose bushes and fields full of poppies, it was sometimes difficult to think we'd be heading to a race track. That said, it was a great way to start and end ones day. Casting my mind back to 2006 during the 990 era, I never made it to race day. I had a great Friday back then, and it was a full days of on track action. Followed by the Saturday, the traditional Valentino Rossi Mugello Helmet unveiling. However, during the afternoon I would develop a temperature. Sunday morning, we drove to the track, but after getting to the gate, I felt too unwell. Emily gave away her tickets to a lucky family and we took an easy day out and went to Lucca.

Not this year! I felt fine, the weather was good, the valleys surrounding the race track were lush and green and it looked like everything was set to be a great weekend of racing. That would all change on Saturday. When Valentino Rossi had a nasty high side and broke his lower leg. Without having to go into details as no doubt it has been reported on ad-nauseum, it was interesting to watch the effect this had on the mood race track and more importantly on the fans who were in attendance.

I was at the medical centre watching events unfold as they brought back Rossi's very broken Yamaha M1 on the back of a recovery vehicle. Now, I understand the level of support this talented man has worldwide, but watching people openly cry as they gathered around the truck was something else to see. It was almost like watching a funeral cortege. Photographers, TV crews and fans alike were gathered around this truck all craning their necks, reaching out with cameras in hand just to get a shot of this damaged bike. As I mentioned to Chris Jonnum of RoadRacerX, it was as if someone had shot the Pope…

Then, people started to leave the track. There were traffic james outside the track at 3pm, something that would've been unheard of in a typical race weekend. People were leaving in droves. What would this mean for Sunday? It was like the genie had been let out of the bottle and had evaporated to boot. The party boy racer wouldn't be here on Sunday. With news updates coming in minute by minute, it was apparent that Valentino Rossi had sustained quite a nasty injury. Taken into surgery immediately, it transpired he would be out for a good few races to come. The chatter in the media room changed from what happened to what would happen? With an already rather thin grid, things could look a little desperate.

Sunday arrives, and it looked like the fans turn up as normal to watch the race and to also send get well wishes to their injured hero. With banners all over the race track, a telephone interview with His Rossiness from hospital it was (almost) business as usual. It did look like the economy had taken a toll on the number of spectators attending from previous years, and the smoke bombs, especially those in yellow, appeared to be down in numbers, but the passion for the racing and what Mugello is about, was and is still there.

All the races went off with out a hitch, with some interesting crashes. In the 125 race there was a huge high side (which left pieces of the bike high up in the crash fencing) then in the Moto2 race a bike went down, then jumped the track about 100 feet way from me, landing on top of the air fence. This job does have it's dangerous moments. Sadly, the race wasn't terribly exciting, with Dani Pedrosa taken the lead and simply running away with it. Jorge Lorenzo would finish second with tearful Andrea Dovizioso taking third. I was also very grateful for the help from Andrew Northcott on Sunday allowing me to pillion around the track with him during the MotoGP race. The service road doesn't need any more traffic and Andrew makes light work of covering a race and I always feel I learn something valuable.

I still don't get a full weekend at home. Next update Silverstone...

Catching up. Part2. Utah. Biaggi, no Spies, and low ABV beer.

2010-06-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

As Emily put it. If she didn't come with me to Miller, she wouldn't have seen me for a month!

After what seemed to be a brief couple of days at home to reconnect with Emily, and to see Thor and Widget, we head off to Miller. One thing I should note. I am always reminded as to how efficient Southwest Airlines is. Aircraft turnaround, the politeness and willingness of flight attendants and the boarding procedure. It just works. Travelling as much as I do, I wish other airlines would adopt at least some of Southwest's policies. I travel and awful lot on Delta, and sometimes you have the best crew, and then other times you feel that you shouldn't be asking for something. I just wish they were consistent.

On the Thursday morning we leave for Salt Lake City. The race would be run on the Monday due to it being Memorial Day. An odd choice but there you go. This did create some scheduling problems for most because of the habitual nature of the race weekends. Everything moved out a day, which felt strange. Still, John Gardiner always runs a good show at the track, along with Annie and others and so we know that at least we'll be looked after and all will run smoothly.

With time to reacquaint oneself with others in the media room I'm always pleasantly surprised at how friendly everyone is in the WSBK camp. But it's not only the press room, which in GP is also very friendly, but the the race teams are always very approachable and the unfettered access to the garages is also very different to the those who have access to various garages in MotoGP, in part because they have photo contracts with the teams, but in all fairness I have noticed, and maybe it's because it's just a question of familiarity, access on a personal level, has improved. Rome wasn't built in a day correct? I understand that in GP they do not want everyone and anyone just wandering in and out of garages but for most it's just being able to do ones job.

Anyways, unless you have been to Miller, this track is HUGE. It takes a full 15 minutes to get around the outside of the track at a good clip. I was grateful to not only John Canton from Ducati who organised a scooter for me, but also Brian Childree who organised for me to have a larger than pit bike, bike for me to use over the weekend. Meeting Brian, we had a brief intro into kick starting this punchy little beast, with him telling me to make sure I find "top" before kick starting otherwise it'll bite you.

Well, not long after it did. It back fired and the kick start dinged my lower shin. Oh the pain. Not only that, but I was clowning around in front of Yamaha PR guy Gavin Matheson and the damn thing stalled. Much to his amusement.

The race weekend was good, Biaggi would win both Superbike races and the fan turnout for such a huge track was good. I always have a good time at Miller, and with Graeme (Brown) staying with Emily and I we had a wonderful time. On Tuesday, I would leave from Salt Lake City to fly onto Bologna. Emily would fly home without me.

Next, MotoGP Mugello. Wooosh

Catching up. Part1. LeMans. Pâtisseries, Jorge Lorenzo and lost baggage..

2010-06-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

We'll start with the oldest trip and come up to date with newest in four parts. Starting with Le Mans

Apologies for the lack of keeping this blog updated. There is always so much travel and work involved in covering back to back races on two continents. Throw into the mix catching the flu and everything simply went belly up and ended up of control. The travel and work is enough in itself. With having caught such a dreadful flu, it made everything extremely hard work, and only the essential work was done to simply get by.

Leaving San Jose, I had a feeling that things were gong to be interesting. My flight from San Jose to Minneapolis was already in the dumpster due to a broken down plane. A taxi ride to SFO, then to LAX, then onto CDG was arranged and I truly thought my bags would all arrive with me. Being that I wasn't using CDG as a transfer. Nope. American Airlines/Air France managed to send one of my bags, with the 600mm lens contained within on it's own trip to Japan. It took five days and umpteen phone calls. Eventually the bag returned on Friday. I lost a days work waiting for it. I did buy a new electric toothbrush and some perfume for myself as it was also packed in the bag. Air France gave me a T-shirt as part of their "we're sorry we lost your bag" welcome kit. Amazing.

Back to Le Mans.

Having only been to the track over 20 years ago to watch the 24 hours, the changes were overwhelming. This time I was staying in the town itself with a good friend and photographer David Piole. I spent the first couple of days exploring. I visited the 24Hours Museum which is just outside the entrance to the race track and I also took a drive to the Loire Valley. I also created some dinners for David and our colleagues at his house. All is good.

One thing that has always struck me about France, is the smells. Early mornings ease in with the smells of the baker, the local butchers shop making meat filled pastries, the gentle murmur of towns coming to life. With that in mind, I tried to restart my weekend on Saturday, now that I had all my kit and everything so far, was back to normal.

The race weekend format never really changes, however, the race weekend logistics are always different by race track. Le Mans was no different. The track itself lends itself to multiple opportunities for images. However, unless one has a scooter or access to one, depending on shuttle buses is like playing roulette. When there are only 3 or 4 shuttle buses for a track the size of Le Mans I counted 10 laps of the Moto2 race between the appearance of the shuttle bus. Unfortunately for me, when it appeared, I was shooting and it went off without me..fortunately, I was able to ride shotgun on a scooter for the GP race. Although I had to shoot from places that "my driver" was shooting from. I'm always grateful for help on race days. That said, the scooter issue would be resolved from here on out.

Overall, the week and race weekend in France was a lot of fun. With Jorge Lorenzo taking the win from Valentino Rossi, Dovizioso on the podium as well. It was great having the ability to live again in a neighbourhood, to experience the local feel of a place (and country) I have always had an affection for. The race weekend was entertaining, the visit to the 24Hour museum was worth it, especially as I had the place to myself and of course, having access to all the culinary fun and games France has to offer makes this boy happy.

Next would be back to the USA, a couple of days to do washing, then off to Miller for World Superbike.

Woosh!

Ben Spies, Rossi, Lorenzo, Hayden. AutoMotoPhoto 2009 Review is available

2010-05-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

Short and swift blog update..

My 2009 Review has been available for a whiles, but with one thing and another it took a whiles to set up the store..but here it is..

For more information on ordering go to AutoMotoPhoto 2009 Racing Review website

Andrew Wheeler, RoadRacerX, Food and MotoGP Photography..

2010-05-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update.

I had a swifty interview with Laurel Allen of RoadRacerX today for their Between The Races feature that happens every Wednesday...

RoadRacerX Between The Races with Andrew Wheeler

Have a read! Or follow me on Twitter/AutoMotoPhoto or become a fan on AutoMotoPhoto Facebook Fan Page and share your comments!

Next trip, Le Mans, France for the next round of MotoGP!

Jorge Lorenzo loves Jerez (and Sherry too...)

2010-05-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Tio Pepe..or Uncle Joe (or Jose), but not Jorge..! Interestingly this is/was my third visit to Jerez inside twelve months. The same time last year was for my first visit to region for MotoGP, the second visit in October 2009 was with my wife Emily as a holiday, and now, here I am again in the same wonderful town for MotoGP once again. I love coming to Jerez. Truly feels like home.Fortunately, just prior to my leaving, the "volcano that cannot be pronounced" appeared to have known about my visit and started behaving itself towards the end of the week that I had planned to leave for Spain. Air France had started returning to its normal transatlantic flight schedules and I could stop panicking about whether I would get there or not. I arrive into Malaga Monday afternoon via Charles De Gaulle, pick up the rental car (A BMW series 3 diesel - again) and head towards Jerez along the coast. The sun is out, it's warm and with the windows down I take a nice easy drive along the main toll road that runs from Malaga, through Marbella, past the rock of Gibraltar and turns inland where one finally ends up in the city of Jerez. It's a nice drive. The toll roads are hardly used and the view along the way is spectacular.Arriving into Jerez I park just outside my accommodations, and after a brief chat with Alice and Jim, the apartment owners, I am in. I decide that I need to run to Carrefour to purchase some supplies for that evenings dinner, plus some beer, wine and water and I just make it in time before the store closes at 10pm! And they really do close. With supermarkets here in the USA they'll announce over the PA that the store is closing in 5 minutes and that's fine, but here, they turn all the lights off!! They obviously have no idea how hard it is to buy Leffe Brun, or at least differentiate between the Blonde and the Brun simply by using the incandescent glow of a Sony Erricson W600i mobie phone. It's all good. I pay, and I head back to the house. A shower, a quick dinner creation and it's time for bed. I sleep like a log.Tuesday rolls around, and I really do not get out of bed until noon! OOPS! I decide that perhaps it's time for a change and instead of taking the car out for a drive, I decide to go for another walk around Jerez. It's a pretty little town, with narrow streets, pretty flat with no major hills so to speak. I decide that maybe I should go to a different "Sherry House" for a tour vs going to Tio Pepe as I do each time I visit. I arrive at the Sandeman bodegas and along with 4 other people we're giving a tour around the front end of the business. In fact, it's only a 30 minutes tour, and although it's well presented it just doesn't come upto the quality tour that is the one given at Tio Pepe. After this tour, in which felt a little rushed, I decide to kill some time, go for a walk and go back to the Tio Pepe bodegas for the 18.30 tour later that day.In the meantime I have a couple of hours to kill. I decide to visit the Alcazar of Jerez. Emily weren't able to visit this building last year, and it's just across from the Tio Pepe bodegas so it makes for a good side trip fitting in nicely with the schedule. Due to the time of year, again, I have this place to myself so I just walk around, then sit on a bench and soak up the lovely warm sunshine whilst enjoying the perfume being given off by the flowers in the garden. Perfect. The Alcazar closes at 5.30, so I leave head over to Tio Pepe, purchase my ticket and sit in their orange groves waiting for the tour to begin. The tour starts and by 7.45pm we're done, so a few purchases in the souvenir shop and I'm heading back to the apartment. Shower, dinner, a chat with Emily over webcam, then it's off to bed. We'll head off to Seville and their Alcazar on Wednesday.I love sleeping without the use of an alarm clock. I wake at 9am. Make coffee, have some chocolate all bran, shower change and am out the door by 11am. The drive to Seville is quite pleasant. About an hour. Arriving into the city through a 6 lane wide boulevard, I have forgotten the street peddlers from last year who like to try and sell you packets of tissues. It's odd. I have never thought about little packets of tissues being something that someone would want whilst sat at a traffic light. Maybe the Spanish buy more of these little packets of tissues than anywhere else. I suppose it's less of an intrusion that someone washing your windshield and then trying to demand you pay the for the work you never wanted in the first place. Everyone has to try and make a living some how so I can't truly knock it. I suppose it isn't much of a stretch to be someone trying to sell photos huh?I park in the same place Emily and I parked last year. Oddly enough in parking space #46! I then head up to ground level and make my way to the Alcazar. It's off season, the weather is perfect, the crowds are manageable and I enter the Alcazar. This place is a must see. It's simply so nice to walk around, sit in the shade, listen to birds and watch people doing the same. It's a world away from what I do normally, the noise, the crowds, so for me, these outings to locations such as these are a way to recharge and just be a visitor. The Alcazar is for want of a better description, a castle. It's a walled palace, with gardens, baths, shaded walkways with palm trees, fruit trees, gardens and waterfalls. Exquisite. I leave a couple of hours later and stop for some tapas, after all, this is where tapas started! I go for tuna with tomatoes on toast, and a nice big glass of cold beer and kill an an hour or so watching people eating ice cream watch me eating tuna. Time to head back to Jerez.Thursday the real world of motorcycle racing, or my "job" kicks back into gear so it's off to the track I go. Arriving early afternoon, Thursdays have become a bit of a "White Elephant" in terms of doing any work. With engines being "blipped" in the garages below as the teams prepare the bikes for the weekends action, the only thing that really happens on a Thursday is the press conference at 5pm and that's it.Friday mornings are a little busier than Thursdays, but with no on track action until Friday afternoon, everything is very low key. Even the number of fans attending on a Friday is less, possibly because they're not willing to spend money for half a days activities, and the accompanying costs of hotels etc. Why not arrive Friday evening for the weekend and save a days expenses?Oh that's right!! I'm here to photograph the racing! I am going down with the flu as this seems to be the time of year I catch something and it tries to incapacitate me. Andrew Northcott has agreed to help run me around on his scooter (too kind and I am immensely grateful) and so at least I can pace myself over the weekend and not make myself any more sick than I need to. Sitting in the media centre with David Emmett from Motomatters, Julian Ryder and Toby Moody from Eurosport along MotoGP technoboffin Neil Spalding, the off track entertainment is already taken care of.The weekends events follow their well scripted chronological paths, with Friday afternoons practices, Saturday mornings practices followed by Saturday afternoons qualifying. The weather is again, perfect. The crowds on Saturday fill the hillsides and add the signature colour that would be repeated ten fold on Sunday.Sunday. Race day arrives. It is a huge event, with air horns, whistles and a new feature, someone has brought in a ships foghorn that when "tooted" simply obliterates any other noise coming from the crowds. With huge crowds lining the hills, and with men trying to get their pictures taken with scantily clad umbrella girls, the smell of food being cooked mixed in with cigarette smoke, race day get's underway. The 125's and the new series Moto2 have their fair share of excitement and fairing to fairing battles, and initially MotoGP looks like it's going to be just another procession to the end. But no. Sadly Ben Spies drops out, and the field spaces out as usual with Spaniard Dani Pedrosa taking off on his own race in the distance. But that wouldn't last for long. We witness Jorge Lorenzo starting to run everyone down, catch and pass them. He passes Nicky Hayden, then passes Valentino Rossi and now he's closing in on Dani Pedrosa. In the meantime I am being whisked around the track at amazing speeds by Andrew Northcott from one shooting location to another and we simply witness Jorge Lorenzo catch and then pass his fellow countryman. Only to go on to win the race.It was a Spanish hat trick, both the 125cc class and Moto2 class were won by Spaniards. Now the MotoGP class has been won by Jorge Lorenzo. Another Spaniard! The crowds are going bezerk! I am in the stadium section on the outside of the track and the noise is deafening as Jorge Lorenzo dismounts, plants his now customary "Lorenzo's Land" flag and walks to the tyre wall, whereupon he jumps up and salutes the crowd. After a few moments he returns to his bike, hops off in another location and jumps into a small lake..which we do not see from where we are located. We head back to shoot the podium and wrap up the days visual events. In a few hours after editing images, and uploading them to our various outlets, we head back to the apartment. After packing and getting ready to leave the next day we head off to bed.Monday, it's a swift drive to Malaga via Ronda. Tuesday, it's time to head home. Next race is Le Mans. We'll see what a swift visit to France brings!

#100 Neil Hodgson...Thank You for the memories

2010-04-22T12:27:00.001-07:00

#100

During my tenure shooting and covering the AMA Superbike series I was fortunate enough to be involved. For me, it was truly international. It had many fans both here in the USA and abroad. Race tracks were full of fans, really full. The racers were all characters, good (Ben Spies) and bad (Matt Mladin) guys, and then some other crazy characters. It was a great time to be a photographer and in simplicity just being there. One person during those AMA days that truly made it me for was Neil Hodgson. Who announced his retirement today following another accident in the UK which re-injured an old injury caused during some down time here in the US. I always enjoyed covering Neil, mainly for Motorcycle Racer in the UK and for that I am grateful to have been a part of his journey here. I was always thrilled to meetup with Neil and the Ducati gang, and then the Honda gang during a race weekend. Neil's sense of humour, with and courtesy were always countered by his stylish and aggressive riding on track. A joy to chat with and a thrill to photograph. Thank you and good luck Neil!

One last thing. Valentino Rossi and one from me!

2010-04-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

I never cease to be amazed...I have had many images used by Yamaha over the last 7 years I have been working in the motorcycle racing world, however, this is the first time an image of Valentino Rossi shot by yours truly has been used...Actually I'm thrilled. More to come in 2010.

Rossi, Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Hayden and Spies. Arabian Knights part two, departure..watch out for the camels..

2010-04-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

Weird. The night racing was cool, a lot of fun.However, for me it made me feel like I was being forced to live through real time jet lag. I knew it would be weird, however, for someone who really does have a hard time grasping time and continuum it threw me a wobbly.I had a a great week exploring, spending time with fellow West Coaster Scott Jones, going shopping, dealing with the worlds hottest parking lot (in the mall that contained Carrefour) and meeting some really really kind, and courteous, locals. On Thursday we headed to the track early afternoon so that Scott and I could pick up our credentials. It is always a thrill to go and pick up my "official pass" as I have never taken any of this for granted. This year however, I do not have to ask for the "vest" at each race. I have been given my own personal bright orange "MotoGP" vest to take to each round as I travel. I am officially photographer 058. Back to Thursday. It's pretty much a day of re-acquaintance, snagging a locker for your gear and making sure you get the desk that'll be your office for the weekend. Thursday afternoon is the 125 and Moto2 team shoot and then we're done.Friday starts late with the group shot of the MotoGP riders as the sun goes down, then it's kicking tyres for a couple of hours before we get some track action. With the 125's heading out with it just getting dark, we're treated to really nice comfortable working conditions. Moto2 and MotoGP bikes hit the track and then we're done. Time to drive back to Andrew's Arabian Palace and call it a day with a nice can of non alcoholic Moussey..Saturday rolls around and I have already decided that we need to visit the Islamic Museum of Art (image above shot at night). What a trip! If anyone goes to Doha to cover MotoGP you must, I insist must, visit this fantastic museum. Chock full of truly interesting artifacts, books, sculptures and just about everything that takes your breath away. For me, the only sadness I has was the fact that Emily wasn't with me. So much stuff to see and absorb. We could've stayed longer but we had sandwiches and food for later on that night to purchase. So we headed off to the City Centre Mall, and the worlds hottest parking lot and bought food.Did I mention you really have to visit the museum?Saturday was the usual race deal, with of course Casey Stoner snagging pole position, and the usual suspects being up front. Ben Spies managed 11th in qualifying but that would eventually change as the race on Sunday progressed and he'd make up 6 places to finish fifth. Casey would crash out giving Rossi the win. Nicky Hayden did a bang up job to finish fourth battling with Dovizioso who would finish third after the man who likes to hurt himself, Jorge Lorenzo. Ben battled with Pedrosa and passed him up the inside right in front of me at the first corner. Not your usual Qatar race to be honest. So fortunately Casey wasn't hurt by crashing, but it did mean we didn't really have a snore fest race from Qatar with someone running away in the lead. Valentino Rossi ran out of gas on the cool down lap and made a local super happy as he rode his scooter back to parc ferme. I almost got annihilated by Dovizioso's crew as they became crazy dudes over his third place finish...With that, hours of editing took place and we left the media centre as some ungodly hour after 4am. Watching the sky, daybreak happen made me feel sort of panicky. Weird I know, but I had been up since 9am the morning before because I really cannot sleep past 8am and so being awake for over 18 hours (we still had to get back to "The Palace") was making me feel a little freaky. Insomnia freaky.Monday rolled around and so we thought we'd visit "the souq" during the day, have some lunch and wrap up our Arabian adventure....Scott and I walked around the souq during it's "siesta time" so most places were closed. We decided to have some lunch. For me it was Couscous Royal, semolina, steamed vegetables, mutton, chicken and merquez sausages. Yummy. Whilst we were sat eating we saw Arabian horse mounted police and a little while after were joined by Gordon Howell of Pole Position Travel for a Turkish coffee. We sat around and had a chinwag before deciding we need to head back to base, finish packing and get ready to leave. As we walked through the souq taking our final photos we were invited to sit with two local Qatari's to have our photo taken. I'm still amazed at the courtesy and kindness I have witnessed during my week here. Needless to say I haven't felt so sad about leaving a destination since leaving Spain, which happens every time I leave Spain...I did mention to my wife Emily how much fun I had in Qatar, to which she answered, we're not living there..but she is coming with me next year!!I simply cannot wait to come back. Contrary to what others said about going to Qatar I found the extra day or two to be helpful (even allowing me the time to replace my power supply for my laptop that decided to go "phht" and give up the ghost!) but it also allowed me to get some sort of feel or insight into the people and culture.I can't wait to catch up with the museum in 2011. Oh and the camels...? Whist we were heading back to our car in the souq, Gordon Howell shouted out "watch out for the camels!!" to which I went yeah yeah.....! Low and behold...Next race for me. MotoGP from Jerez...

Valentino Rossi Limited Edition Helmet Print (No Really)

2010-04-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

There are only a handful left. Then that'll be it for this image file.If you have been following this blog and my trails and travels over the last few years you'll know that a print on canvas that I donated to the Riders For Health charity raised $8500 at auction during the Friday morning proceedings at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Rider for Health auction just before the racing events got under way. I have only been advertising the print on my Face Book Fan Page but now want to give those who aren't "fans" (I'll admit I'm not a fan of that phrase - gettit...) a last chance opportunity to own their own copy. Check out the link to the Valentino Rossi Helmet Print.

Now onto Arabian Knights, part two, the race and departure...

Rossi, Spies, Stoner, Lorenzo, Edwards, Hayden and Jones. Arabian Knights part one, arrival.

2010-04-09T01:14:00.000-07:00

This is my first trip to Qatar. It won't be my last.It's an odd thing how historically societal feelings can affect one's thoughts of going to a "strange land." I'll be honest I was a little nervous about coming here as all the google satellite maps made it look all dusty and even more mysterious. Then I started reading about the people and the history of Qatar. Having never been to the East this was my first trip to Qatar or anywhere on the Arabian Peninsula. The flight via Emirates was one of the most amazing flights, even in economy, I had ever been on. Don't get me started about how good the food was either.Arriving here late Monday night, another emotional twig being thrown into my mind's spoked wheel, I zipped through immigration where I paid my 100 Rials an received my visitor's visa stamp in my passport. Into baggage claim where someone had neatly paired my two suitcases ready to pick up and go. Through the alcohol detector (odd having ones bags x-rayed upon leaving the terminal...) and off to the Hertz counter. Signed all the forms, and then someone pushed my bag cart to the rental car, helped me load it and then walked me out through the gates. With my GPS all ready to go I found my accommodation in the centre of Doha. Being a little bit bothered that it might smell of smoke, I even brought my own Fabreez! What a twit. The apartment is huge. Two bedrooms, marble floors and 12' ceilings. Super comfortable and clean. (As an aside note to other photographers who have come here and said it's boring, can't wait to get out of here etc etc..hint: stop staying in hotels). The hotel security gurad even help me carry my luggage upstairs. Finally got to bed at 3pm. Next day, we'd go exploring and find a fort.I guess not too many people venture out of the city. It's a two hour drive north of Doha, out in the middle of nowhere and it's called Al-Zubarah. Restored back in 1835 on the remains of the original fort it sits out in the scrubland/desert and is "guarded" by a nice little old guy who lives next door. One Rial and you get the whole place to yourself. In fact, it is simply rather nice being there with the only other sound being the woot of pigeons. About an hour spent there, a brief picnic and it was back to Doha to do some food shopping in Carrefour. For Wednesday I had planned to go local. To keep it simple as later on Wednesday night a good friend and photographer Scott Jones would be my partner in crime at Andrew's Arabian Palace, joining me for the weekend's fun and games at "the races". So the plan was to head of to the Waqif souk, a reminder of Doha's heritage as a trading post and a sort of antique mall, no, not a mall that sells antiques just a place where one can eat, smoke sheesh and have a browse looking at gold and other objects. I had also planned to head to the Islamic Museum. This was not to be. My laptop power brick decided to end it's own life so with less than three hours of battery life. I had to go shopping. After five hours of discovering the back roads of Doha, and meeting even more kind helpful people, I found a store that sells Apple products. Oddly enough on the third floor for of the same huge mall that contained Carrefour. It was now getting dark. Time to get back on the plan and try to restart my day's plan of visiting "The Souk"..The first thing that hits you? The smell. It envelopes you. Coddles you. Wraps it's arms around you and makes you feel like you're being hugged. It's aromatic, erotic and sublime. Sandalwood, cumin, allspice and cinnamon waft around in the warm, slightly humid evening air.This isn't justa tourist spot. This is an actual working market, products such as 20lb bags of basmati and other rices stacked 10 bags high wait for their buyers. Fruit, pulses and other goods are being haggled over, "ten for that you must be mad" runs though my mind! Aware that it was getting later and not having Emily here to share this wonderful experience with, I decide it's time to take some pictures of the Doha skyline at night. After getting back onto the Corniche, the coast road and promenade around the inlet around which Doha is built. Doha had a huge pearl industry until oil was found, and the pearl business died out. Where the Corniche starts and near to the Islamic Museum is a massive Mother of Pearl monument, that pays homage to Doha's past. With that being the last shot of the evening, I switch on "Gladys", plot a route for home and join the crazy, but fun, evening traffic back to base.Did I mentioned I'm here because Ben Spies, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden and those other madmen on their two wheeled machines that will be racing on Sunday at some stupid hour of the day? Oh no I didn't! More to come.

WSBK without Ben Spies? Oh no! Now what?

2010-03-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

I never tire of seeing koala bears. There is a reserve that is run by the state not far from where we stay for the week during the races that has a Koala reserve. Since last year the entrance, and visitors centre has been modernised. The walks around the park have been more clearly designated and overall it looks like it has been spruced up considerably. One of the benefits of arriving early for a race weekend and especially during the early part of the week is the lack of other visitors. I have the entire park to myself. Just me, wallabies and sleeping koala's.This time, I'm house sharing with GB and Eric Malherbe at the All Seasons Eco Resort on Phillip Island. From the main road that heads into Cowes on Phillip Island, it looks like someone has simply decided to place a collection of old red roofed galvanised steel sheds into a field. But these self catered 2 or 3 bedroom chalets are modern, comfortable and have everything you need to make your stay comfortable. They do have internet access, but it's pricey. So beware on over using it. In fact it's ridiculously expensive, my only gripe. That said, it's a lovely place to stay. If you wake early anywhere on this Island, make sure to go for a walk as the sun rises. You'll see Ibis (the bird in the above image) and fields of wallaby and rabbits, all moving, running around getting an early start.This is now the second year in a row where I start my racing year "on the Island". This week it is to cover World Superbike and to interview Roger Hayden and Jason DiSalvo, for a feature in the American Racing Magazine, Road RacerX. With Ben Spies moving onto to MotoGP, World Superbike now has two riders flying the flag for the USA. Roger is back on a Kawasaki Superbike in the Superbike class, and Jason is aboard a Triumph 675 triple in the World Supersport class. The interview, along with images will be in the next edition of Road RacerX which should be out in a few weeks. I wish them both the best of luck. I know Roger is under no illusions that he has a tough job ahead of him, but the interview with him was illuminating and entertaining. Jason, has the benefit of being on factory ride, and has Chaz Davies on the same team. Finishing 8th in his first race during the weekend certainly set the tone for the year, and Roger did equally as well by finishing 18th, making up places and getting faster as the weekend continued.Visiting the Yamaha garage was good as always, Maio and the other crew folks were pleased to see me, and likewise I was too. I love this crowd and yet again, Maio (Massimo) Meregalli went out of his way to make sure I had a scooter for the weekend. Even though the first one died and i had to push it back from Siberia! Only to be given a new scooter that did work! But it did feel a little different insofar as there wasn't Ben, Tom, Mary and Woody in the crew. But like everything changes. There were a lot less photographers at this years event vs last year, but the crowds were bigger than last, possibly because there wasn't the horrible fires that were happening at the same time last year. Leon Haslam would win race one, and Carlos Checa would win race two. Eugene Laverty would win the Supersport race.The next time I will be at Phillip Island will be during the MotoGP race that will be during the latter part of the year. This time we will have Ben, Tom, Woody, Mary. But then we'll not have Maio! Oh well. I do love coming to Phillip Island, let's just hope it's a little cheaper and the US Dollar has a little more oomph vs the Australian Dollar...and oh yes, I must organise some sort of internet access as well.Check back soon! Thanks for reading...and don't forget to become a "Fan" of Andrew Wheeler - AutoMotoPhoto on Facebook!

What are Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden doing? Interview with Andrew Wheeler (that's me)

2010-01-13T12:06:00.000-08:00

What to do...

It's the off season. Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner are running around in the snow with the new Ducati GP10 as part of Ducati's annual winter romp which can be followed here on RoadRacerX's website . I've just ordered a couple of 1TB hard drives for the "big machine" at home and am currently planning my 2010 as I will be covering just MotoGP. With Moto2 as the new class, MotoGP looks like it's going to be exciting.

I know I posted this waaaay back in July, but seeing as some new people have discovered my work, I thought i may be appropriate to re-visit this wonderful video that those kind folks at OTT - On The Throttle put together.It can be run full screen by clicking on the little "icon" to the left of the volume adjustment on the status bar. Okay, I'm off to find something else to write about. Meanwhile, why not become a fan and join others on my Facebook Fan page.

Oh, and it's been a whiles since I shared a photo of our German Shepherd, Thor

Photos Of The Year. RoadRacerX and Haga. Spies, Lorenzo, Stoner

2010-01-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

A few published favourites from this year. By no means everything of course.

For the second time in the five years RoadRacerX magazine has been running this annual feature, one of my images from 2009 has been used as their opening spread for their Photos Of The Year. It is a shot of Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga at the Curva Parabolica, Monza 2009.Closely followed by a cover shot of World Superbike Champion Ben Spies taken at the final round at Portimao and used on the cover of 2010 Parts Unlimited Magazine.One of my favourite shots from the 2009 season of MotoGP was used as an opening spread in CycleWorld's December edition of Race Watch. It is of Jorge Lorenzo at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He had a custom made Captain America helmet, but, the reason why I like this shot is the fact that the clouds are reflected inside the "A".As I have been working with a European agency this year, quite unbeknownst to me one of my images of Ducati rider Casey Stoner, that was taken at Laguna Seca earlier this year, adorned the cover of the programme for the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana!We're almost up to date!

Merry Christmas 2009.....

2009-12-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

Hold on..I'm starting my time travel machine...More posts are on their way!

Starting with the Official Andrew Wheeler Christmas Card 2009. A quality collectors item and a big thank you to all who have been a part of the journey through 2009. I'm looking forward to to doing more in 2010. More, that's it!
Next!

The Rossi Print went for $8500. How Much Will A Rossi R1 Raise For Riders For Health?

2009-12-06T15:12:00.000-08:00

The print to canvas of Valentino Rossi adjusting his Aldo Drudi designed helmet helmet at Valencia in 2008 was sold at auction at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Riders For Health Auction for $8500.

I attended the press day at the Long Beach Convention Centre in Long Beach California to capture images of the customised Yamaha R1 that publisher, Don Emde had put together with the help of Drudi Performance (the people that designed and painted Valentino Rossi AGV helmet), along with some help from Bob Starr at Yamaha (who donated the bike!), Roland Sands Design and others.The repainted Yamaha R1 is going to be sold for auction at one of the two MotoGP events to be held in 2010, either at Indianapolis or Laguna Seca.Striking as it is pretty, this should raise some well need funds for the Riders For Health charity. Watch out for more information and start saving!

Valencia. The Final Week. The Final MotoGP Round 2009. Rossi, Lorenzo, Spies et al..

2009-12-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

It really doesn't take long to get from Granada to Valencia and is quite a nice drive.So here we are, the last few days of our holidays and we have now arrived in Valencia. We're staying in the same apartment I rented back earlier in the year for the World Superbike Round. The final round of the MotoGP season took place at the same location, and seeing as I already had left sufficient funds to cover for a deposit it made sense to rent the same apartment. It's location is good, it's quiet normally! During this visit there was nothing but high winds all week long and at night it felt like you were on the deck of an aircraft carrier so sleeping was a tricky, if not a noisy affair.Emily and I didn't really have any plans here, simply to visit the old town, find a decent restaurant, and wind down with the end of year party with the GP folks. We stayed pretty close to base. We drove down to the Albufera which is a nature reserve a few miles south of Valencia. It is also near where Bomba rice (the rice used in Paella Valencia) originates and is grown, in huge rice paddy fields that line the small network of narrow two lane roads that crisscross this reserve. With the weekend approaching and the buildup to the final round of GP ahead we head to the track on Thursday to get set up. Alpinestars kindly set us up for hospitality access, and Emily is all set with her passes to allow her into the paddock and media centre (thank you so much for this - you know who you are).With Ben (Spies) being offered a wild card ride for the last round aboard a Sterilgarda liveried Yamaha M1, and his garage that is sandwiched between the Factory Yamaha's of Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo on one side, and the Tech 3 garages of Colin Edwards and James Toseland on the other, it is to me, rather quaint in some odd way. With the big beaming smiles of Massimo Merigalli (Ben's R1 team boss), Tom Houseworth his crew chief and of course Woody, along with a few other former team mates who came along to help out, it feel like we never really left Portimao. Except the bikes are louder and the paddock isn't quite as laid back as the World Superbike paddock. Ben is in good spirits. As his right hand man Geoffrey. Everyone is all smiles and are quite excited to have this head start for the upcoming 2010 season. Ben will take over from James Toseland and will be aboard the Tech3 Yamaha M1 for 2010 (yes I know it's not exactly news anymore...). So the atmosphere in and around this garage is still the same as it was in World Superbike. Next year though, I imagine it'll be a lot more intense though.Tom, is still the master of hand signals. Woody, is on "observation" and pit board duty (apparently the team doesn't let you just dive straight into to work on machines - you have to observe first)...but Ben's garage still has that fresh positive air that existed throughout the World Superbike season.Friday rolls around and everyone is anxious to get out on track to start winding down the season. It's windy. Very windy. Holes are drilled in the fairings of the lightweight 125's and some of the fairing of the 250cc machines.I'm a lucky boy again. Fortunately I'm able to use Ben's scooter for the sessions and thus am able to get around without much difficulty.Saturday, practice in the morning, qualifying in the afternoon. It's still windy. Very windy and quite cool. During the afternoon qualifying went off as normal, but with the Championship having been settled and won by Valentino Rossi at Malaysia, all eyes (in the MotoGP class) were on Ben Spies. Being that he had won the World Superbike Championship in spectacular style in his first year (I'm not a fan of the word "rookie"..no idea way..just seems a little bit twee) this would be the story for the weekend. With James Toseland on his way out, and with Ben moving to Tech3 alongside fellow Texan Colin there was a lot of chatter about whether Ben would finish ahead of James. With Ben qualifying a good 9th (against James' 14th spot) and with Colin up ahead in 5th, and with the usual suspects ahead of Colin Sunday should be interesting. But there is still on more thing to take care of on Saturday. That is the BMW M Award. Valentino Rossi has won this prestigious award for being the fastest rider on the grid during all 17 rounds of MotoGP, not after spending some time "lusting" over the bright orange BMW M3 GTS and taking it for a lap around the circuit (I also heard he took delivery of not long thereafter and gave the M3 sedan he won to his Mum. At least I think that's the story). After returning to the presentation area, he then "hugs" the car he has won and is also presented with a scale model of the same vehicle.One thing that didn't go unnoticed, especially by my wife, was that Valentino Rossi is the expert of scarf tying, or rather, how to make wearing a scarf look totally snug! Sunday rolls around, and yet again, it's windy. Cool, but sunny. Thanks to Mary, Massimo, Geoff and the team, I am fortunate enough to have the scooter for the GP race. The other two races run their course and it's time for the "big boys". I go to the grid, which is (as usual) total madness, with photographers, riders, teams, fans with special passes, tv people and half of Spain all milling around. But that's part of the glamour of GP so you work around it. I tend to work rear of grid towards the front, thus, as everyone dives for the "main attractions" at the front, I'm treated to a free grid, and as everyone works their way to the back, I end up with free-ish access to the front of the grid. Tom (Houseworth) give me a "wave" and I head off the grid, onto Ben's scooter and off to grab the first lap (or two) shots with the pack.As the bikes head off the grid for their warm up lap, we wait for them to come around and most folks take a test shot or two to make sure everything is setup correctly. I'm stood next to Gigi (Soldano) and as all the bikes have passed he asks me "where's Stoner?". It transpires (as we know) that Casey Stoner had a little off on the warm up lap and that was the end of his 2009 race season. Which was a shame. This year has been particularly challenging for Casey and it looks like the last race of the year wasn't going to let him off easy either. The race is under way. I tend to use a race plan of 2 or 3 laps in one spot, them move, thereby giving you the opportunity to amass a wide variety of shots from different locations. Valencia is easy to get around, but with the crowds being a little lighter than past years, I wasn't always afforded the bright colourful pixelated backgrounds so you had to pay extra special attention to your subjects if you wanted to ensure a lot of colour.Well, the race at Valencia can be a little processional but as before, all eyes are on Ben Spies. He didn't disappoint. Finishing a healthy 7th place, ahead of a somewhat disappointed Andrea Dovizioso and of course James Toseland. Inadvertently, Ben also helped his future team mate Colin Edwards. By finishing ahead of Andrea Dovizioso he allowed Colin Edwards to take 5th place. Local lad Dani Pedrosa would win the race, with Valentino Rossi coming in second and Jorge Lorenzo coming in third. One thing that struck me as odd, and I think it was the high winds, was the lack of paella smells this year. Every year I have been coming here it has been a feature of this track. The somewhat fragrant whiff of seafood being cooked swirls around the track, but this year, nothing. After the podium, it's a quick shift into the the presentation for the top three class Champions and that it for the 2009 season.Back to the media centre, sort, edit and upload. By the time we left the media centre it was nearly 11pm. We had been invited to the Dorna end of year party. By the time we got back to the apartment, and then realising that it would be an additional 45 minute down to the Albufera, added to the fact I couldn't keep my eyes open, we called it a day. On reflection I wish we had gone to the awards presentation ceremony at the Aquarium. Maybe we'll do that for 2010. Monday afternoon would be spent back at the track for testing and Ben would be aboard the Tech3 Yamaha and there would be a number of "staff" changes that took place after seasons end.After saying goodbyes to various people that would be it for my year of racing. 19 races in total. 8 World Superbike events, 8 MotoGP's and three AMA Superbike events here in the US. Thank you to the Sterilgarda Yamaha Italia team for helping make life a little easier too. Quite the season. Thank you to my lovely wife for being who you are. I love you. I missed you so much whilst I was away. These three weeks with you were simply the best fun ever.Tuesday, it would be up early, off to the airport and then the trip home back to the USA.

Interlude. On The Road from Jerez to Valencia....

2009-11-30T14:36:00.000-08:00

Just putting a little movement into the update...

Music "Spain" from Aural Sculpture by The Stranglers...

Valencia update next...

A Little Moorish. The Wheelers On Holiday. Jerez To Valencia

2009-11-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

Imagine two weeks between races, in Southern Spain with the most important person in your world....
I have been looking forward to this. Emily and I hadn't been away on holiday together (aside from her joining me at Indy, for MotoGP) for over two years. So for her to join me for both last races of the season, AND have a holiday touring in Spain in between WSBK at Portimao and MotoGP at Valencia was a true blessing and something that we both had been looking forward to ever since we started planning the trip. In so much as Emily didn't take hardly any vacation in 2008 just to make sure she had enough to cover her for the time we were aboard (the US is not terribly generous on leave so three weeks vacation is almost considered abandoning your job...).

Emily kept a sort of "rolling blog" on her Facebook page here and here which will go into greater depth. But here it is in some sort of order...and some other odd pictures.

We left Portimao and drove to Faro airport where we dropped off the rental car. At Faro airport we ate some of those tasty Portuguese egg/caramel pastries whilst we waited for our shuttle. The shuttle would drive us from the airport to Hertz Rent-a-Car in Huelva, just across the border in Spain (the reason being it would cost us nearly €700 to drop the rental car at our final destination at Valencia and so the shuttle was a lot cheaper). Whereupon we picked up another stunning German rental car, a BMW Series 3 diesel (much to my surprise actually). From there we drove roughly 2.5 hours to the house I stayed at during the GP earlier in the year in Jerez. Now I can enjoy some time in Jerez with Emily at a location that was super convenient.This would be our base to visit towns such as Seville, Cordoba and other towns nearby.The Tuesday after we arrived from Portugal, we pretty much took it easy. I really needed a day to just breathe, and we woke late and pretty much just walked about Jerez during the day. Wednesday, we took a trip to Cadiz and with Emily as my guide we walked around the town, and the old town, ate fried fish, Emily commandeered my Canon G9 and we just had a blast.The next day we would go to Cordoba. Did I mentioned we're going to move here? Anyways, we visited the Alcazar and the coolest of places I have ever been to in my life, the Mezquita. What can I say, one of the most amazing places to visit, just walk around and realise what the Moors brought to Europe (and the world) via Spain. To think, they brought, toothpaste, alcohol, eating meals in courses, and their culture added so much to how we live today.The next day we went to Seville. It's almost too much for words. The history, the cathedral, the minaret, just walking round, looking up. Over the next few days, we'd go to Tio Pepe in Jerez to take a tour of the "bodega", my second trip, and Emily's first. We'll worth the small fee, but make sure to buy the little extra for the tapas at the end of the tour. It's a nice way to finish off the day. Before leaving Jerez we'd visit one of the signature "white-washed" hill towns that are part of the landscape in the region.We'd visit Arcos de la Frontera, a stunningly beautiful town on a hillside not too far from Jerez (and coincidentally not too far from the race track either...).On the Monday, we'd be up early and leave for Granada, the last major castle of our trip. We'd be staying in the Alhambra Palace Hotel which is literally a 10 minute walk away from the Alhambra itself. What struck me is how "high up the mountain" this place is. Something like 1800 feet above sea level, and with mountains behind, the Sierra Nevada's, it almost does really feel like California!After a lovely walk and self guided tour around the Alhambra, lunch at an outdoor restaurant (along with feral cats circulating for "snacks"). We rounded off with a lovely dinner in the hotel restaurant we headed off to bed. On the Tuesday morning we had to check out by noon and we'd be on our way to Valencia, for the final leg of our trip, that would end with the last round of MotoGP. As I mentioned above, if you go to Emily's Facebook links above, you'll see a chronological, and just more logical, reportage of the trip.Next, we arrive in Valencia and wind down the year.

To The Wire. Ben Spies vs. Nitro Nori. Portimao. World Superbike Championship

2009-11-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

It was a quick turnaround. Quickest I've ever done, and Emily was convinced that by Sunday I would be a total wreck.
Why? I left Melbourne on Monday, October 19 at 10.30am in the morning. After a quick change of plane in Sydney, it's off back to San Francisco. I arrive at 10.15am on the same day. In less than 48 hours, Emily and I would be going in the other direction (time wise) to Lisbon in Portugal. Just enough time to get home, change ones knickers and head off again (that's just a colloquial phrase...meaning just enough time to do the washing...)! Well. Everything went well. Our shuttle took us to SFO, we caught our flight to JFK, waited for a few hours, then caught our flight to Charles De Gaulle, waited a little whiles and then flew onto Lisbon!Thursday afternoon and all the luggage arrived (breathe a sigh of relief especially as we were travelling via CDG). We met John Hopkins and his crew at the Hertz Rent-a-Car and in fact, ended up with his rental car as it wasn't big enough for all their stuff, which worked well for us as the car I had been assigned wasn't big enough for all my stuff. Everyone happy, we head off to Portimao where we'd be staying. We'd rented a house in the town of Portimao which in turn wasn't that far from the track. The bed in the house, however, was torture, but the house was super comfortable and big. But all things aside, we had arrived. We took a quick trip to a supermarket nearby, but oddly many of the people working there spoke English to buy some provisions. GB arrived later that evening and after catching up we all settled down for the night. Friday morning we took the scenic route to the track. Last year was the first year for the race here at Portimao and this was the only route to the track. However, the motorway has been constructed and so there is a quicker route to the track but by no mean as interesting. The drivers in Portugal are rather, shall we say, excitable....! After the almost "Paris-Dakar" ride to the track (Emily's coined phrase for my exuberant driving) we arrive at this extremely modern, out in the middle of nowhere, facility. Emily and I pop into the administration offices to pick up her credential and we're in!A brief walk to the media centre, more money for (lousy) internet access and we're all set up. Time to go wander, arrange for scooter during the weekend and check things out.What a track! Huge sweeping downhills, uphills, crest's and such a beautiful surface.The areas around the track are a little "Miller-esque", meaning they're a little dust-bowl-ish and still needing some landscaping, but there's nary a bad view from anywhere on the outside. With Emily armed with my Canon G9 and all "media-accessed up" we go to get it sorted so she can visit and hang out in the Yamaha garage. Mary Spies, Ben's mum, greets Emily with a huge hug! Tom, Ben and Woody also are pleased to see her (me, I end up getting the now obligatory "salute" - all in jest mind).Tom (Houseworth) has brought his wife Suzie with him to the final round and for a brief moment it didn't dawn on either of us that it was Suzie, Tom's wife, when she introduces herself to us. DOH!Friday carries on as normal....with a little more tension in the air. This weekend would decide the winner of the World Superbike Championship, and it was going to be either Ben or Nori that would win it. The excitement in the air was palpable. Although for Tom and Woody, they had been here before (in the AMA) and even though they appeared to be calm, I did sense just a tinge of reservation that I hadn't seen or felt from my prioir visits to the Yamaha Italia camp...Evening trips back to the house were always fun. With the warm late autumn temperatures in the Algarve, it is a real treat driving with the windows down. Friday night I had decided to cook dinner. Saturday, following a tense day with practice and qualifying, Superpoles and wotnots, would be a trip into the town of Portimao and the "Restaurante O Alcaide". We found this local gem simply searching on Google Maps. We were not disappointed. We were joined at Kevin Allen from Pirelli later that evening and although he wasn't planning on eating the food was so tempting he caved and joined the rest of us. We had an assortment of dishes, one of which, the mixed seafood cataplana, was simply delicious. We left the restaurant around 11pm once it dawned on us that they don't stay open as late as Spanish restaurants, and the owner/chef, was getting a little bit irked that we were still there. Needless to say we'd go back to this place again.Sunday arrives. The BIG DAY! Although as far as Greg "Woody" Woods is concerned it is just "Sunday". Which is true, but there was a lot of nerves in the Ducati garage as well as the Yamaha garage next door. With all the finishing permutations Ben (Spies) had to achieve to win the Championship, and similar permutations applying to Nori (Haga) to allow him to win, the win itself was becoming a class in mathematics! As I wouldn't necessarily have access to Bens' scooter for both race one and two, I had decided I would go and photograph the grid and race on track for the first race, and then (nervously) cover the goings on in the garages for race two. Well, as we all know, Nori made a mistake in race one and crashed. Of course, the made race two even more tense and so I felt I made the right choice in being "in garage" during race two. Ben only had to finish something like 5th or higher to win the Championship.The atmosphere in the garage was incredible. I mean, people, glued, almost magnetically to the monitors and timing screens. With Ben (Spies) losing some ground, and Nori (Haga) gaining, you could visibly see sweat on people faces. Strained, anxious eyes watched the monitors and no one said a word.After numerous battles with misinformed security telling me I couldn't do this or that I simply went to the pit wall once it looked like Ben was going to snag the Championship. As Michael Fabrizio raced past the pit wall and mechanics in first, closely followed by his team mate and Championship runner up Noriyuki Haga, followed by Rea, Byrne it was Ben's turn. With Yamaha mechanics swarming all around me Ben road an arc towards the pit wall while his crew started to lose it!! Back to the Yamaha garage and people were jumping around, excited. Amazing stuff.Everybody runs down the pit lane to parc ferme to wait for Ben to arrive. It's a battle trying to get any burnout shots of Ben as he pulls up. With more fans than photographers I stand back and observe, as Massimo Meregalli arrives, arrives in tears, being hugged, and hugging well wishers, from fans to team mates to fellow competitors. It's an emotional moment for "Maio" and in a way one for me too. Both Emily and I have witnessed Ben's Championship wins through the AMA and now into World Superbike.With the podium ceremony completed, there is even more frolicking with team members being "dunked" into the pond that is next door to the media centre. The celebrations and buzz in the paddock are amazing.The last business of the day is the final Championship photos on the track and then that's pretty much it for the World Superbike Championship. With Ben heading off to MotoGP, the number 1 plate will only exists on the Yamaha Superbike for the purposes of this, the final photo shoot. In a way I felt sorry for Massimo and the team. One works so hard to get that number 1 on a machine, and sadly, with Ben moving onto face the top level of motorcycle racing in MotoGP, this number 1 plate will not be paraded on a bike during the 2010 World Superbike Season. But I guess that's racing!With a huge lump in my throat, and a feeling of sadness, like it's the last day of school before people leave to find jobs or go onto University, I bid my farewells to the team. It's a sad feeling for me. I have always been welcomed and looked after by everyone in the Yamaha Italia squad, from Maio, to Jure, to Giulio and of course Gavin the PR dude...the same sentiments and kindness were shown to Eily on her visit to the teams. So I have to say a huge THANK YOU to Yamaha Italia for making my work away from home and my wife a joy. I look forward to seeing them all again soon. Also a huge thank you to Graeme Brown, Matteo Cavadini, Marco Morittu, Gavin Mattheson and others who made 2009 so much of a pleasure. Also a big THANK YOU to Yamaha's advertising agency who have been very supportive and have used many of my images through 2009 in the advertising campaigns.Monday am arrives, and we're up early and off to begin our holiday. That post is coming up next...

Five days at home! Off to Australia..Spies? Haga? Rossi? Stoner? WHO!!?

2009-11-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

Even though this has become a common view this year, it's always nice to come home. Back home to Emily my wife, Thor the dog, Bean and Widget our little cats and my own bed. There is nothing nicer....Two weeks away from home in a single trip it starts to push the envelope of tolerance. Knowing that Emily is home having to take care of the pets, and everything else, whilst I'm away. I feel somewhat guilty, but then again, this is my job and I try my best to promise Emily that she'll get pictures each day. Fortunately this was only my second back to back race this year and the last. The next time I'll be away from home for more than a week will be the trip to Portugal and Spain for World Superbike and MotoGP and Emily will be with me (or was with me...!)In the meantime it is home for five days then off to Australia for the second time this year. The first was for World Superbike at the beginning of the year. This is for MotoGP. A different beast! As is the case the five days at home whizzes by. Washing is all done, suitcases repacked with all clean clothes (you really do not empty your suitcases at all...) and before you know it we're back in the car, heading up Highway 280 to SFO. Upon checkin, the Customer Service Manager (I've mislaid his business card so I can't add his name here) at the Qantas desk recognizes me (from past flights) and upgrades my seat to Premium Economy. SCORE! I get to sleep properly on the way day. I am so thrilled. Emily and I spend an hour or two having a bite to eat before she has to head back down home. It never get's any easier, and I do really not enjoy saying cheerio to her. I wish she could come with me all the time.The plane leaves on time and we settle in for the trip down....a few beers, champagnes and whiskies later sleep happens. We're woken and we're not too far from touchdown at Melbourne. I'm always amazed how long the flight looks numerically, but in reality seems to fly by. I really wanted to enjoy my comfy seating! Oh well. I have a few hours to kill in Sydney before my connecting flight to Melbourne and I meet Maurice Murray. Good friend and the man in charge with Yamaha US Parts and Accessories Division. Hilarious who you meet in places you'd least expect it. Time to go catch the flight down to Melbourne.The weather isn't looking very good, it's cold (and yes it is Spring down here but it has been warmer...). I load my stuff into the rental, fire up "Gladys" (my trusty TomTom 300) and head on down to Phillip Island. Stopping, as I have always done, at the McDonald's in Cranbourne for some funky curry flavoured snack wrap and a coffee...a couple of hours later I'm at the house on Phillip Island. Making sure I do not speed. Speeding tickets seem to be a hazard with this job. But as I write this many weeks later it does appear that I have been well behaved and so far, nothing from the State of Victoria has landed in our mailbox...yet). One super treat is that John Hanson, good friend from back home (the US) will be joining me (along with GP regular Martin Heath) at the house along with his Australian girlfriend. John is a super nice fellow and extremely talented photographer with who I had had the pleasure of working with since we met at Road America in 2005. He also does work with RoadRacerX and also has a unique style of photography that I like. So that was something to look forward to as well. Sadly there wasn't any trips to the penguins, nor the koala reserve, the weather was far too stormy and I think I was just tired from travelling and pretty much ended up waiting for the race weekend to roll around...But then again, when the sun comes out, it is super blue skies although it looks comfortable, it does get chilly pretty damn quick...One thing that I notices covering races all over the place. Is the spectators clothing. It's rather entertaining in some ways, becuase, for example, in somewhere warm, like Spain or Italy, people wear bright colours, even in the rain the colours are bright and the nice thing about this is that as a photographer you can use this to your advantage, especially in slow motion shots. By lowering the shutter speed you can create a high bright and colourful background. However, at Phillip Island most folks where dark sombre colours and so a motion blur shot is usually only speckled with an odd flash of yellow or red.The race weekend was pretty predictable, baring some sort of stupid mistake from either Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo or Dani Pedrosa, and it's been known to happen mind you, the race would be won by one of these four. As it turned out one does have to feel a little sorry for poor old Nicky Hayden after yet again, having his race ruined before even a single lap under his belt by a little over exuberance by Jorge. That said it would be Casey Stoners weekend, and a a home win is well, which must feel good.Monday am it would be up bright and early, a steady drive to Melbourne (no speeding) then a commuter flight to Sydney then home. But I wouldn't be home for long. After getting home Monday afternoon, within 48 hours I would be on a plane heading to Lisbon in Portugal. This time would be different as Emily would be with me..FOR THREE WEEKS! Next installment coming up. It is about the racing right?

From Pizza to Poulet, Imola to Magny Cours, Ben Spies and Nitro Nori!

2009-11-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

Sit tight, grab a coffee, put some kindling on the fire, or grab your kindle and read on....

I will be updating in "chunks" during the next day or so, beginning with Imola and Magny Cours, then Phillip Island in Australia, then Portimao which will include the road trip my wife Emily and I had en route to the final round of MotoGp in Valencia. Then we'll have some current updates.

The last time I put words to this blog, I was staying in a small gite, in a small beautiful town called Brisighella, a picture of which can be viewed down page. This was to attend the World Superbike race at the famous race track at Imola. I had never been to Imola, much the same as I had never been to Monza. In fact, it's the one thing in common I had with Ben Spies! Many of the tracks he would be racing at, he hadn't seen either. Let's just say that's where the similarities ended. Italy is a wonderful place, and this part of Italy is beautiful. Still rather rustic, but full of history, architecture and kind people. The gite I had rented was a converted barn. The entire property was a vineyard, not huge, but they make and sell their own wines and we had just arrived at harvest time. So the roads that we would travel on would always have at least one tractor with a trailer full of grapes. Occasionally, you'd round a corner and see a rather futuristic tall, spaceship looking tractor designed to remove grapes from their vines. At night you'd hear these tractors, with their "night into day" lights following a strict path up and down the well placed vines removing the grapes.Needless to say, the air is full of a pungent fruity mustiness as they're taken from the vines, and crushed at many of the small independent wine producers in the valley. The entire region is noted for it's wine, and it's wild boar. In fact, at the place we were staying, the woman who ran the facility, and who owned the vineyard and who also runs a cooking school, would tell me that if I went for a walk in the evening to watch out for wild boar... Ok, I will. In the mornings you would sometimes wake to the crack of gunfire and hunters would be up at dawn looking for game, and no doubt, the odd wild boar...! Imola holds a very special place in many racing fans' hearts. As with many famous racetracks it also has a rather sad side to it's history, being a race track where many fine racers have lost their lives. One of the most well known, and still loved to this day, is Ayrton Senna. On the Thursday afternoon, Graeme, another photographer by the name of Gareth Harford and myself walked the track, a useful exercise just to get some idea of the layout, angles and so forth. When we came upon Tamburello we went behind the catch fencing, where, to this day, Senna fans place flowers, and memorials to the famed Formula 1 (cars) driver. On a quiet Thursday afternoon with the only sound being some birds and the faint toot of cars horns from the city that surrounds the race track it made for a moment of reflection, and a reminder that sometimes there is a price to pay for speed, competition, and the ultimately, life does go on.Well..as with everything Thursday ends and the race weekend gears itself up. In Italy, this means chaos. Organised chaos! Italian race fans are really, very enthusiastic. Climbing fences, firecrackers, disco Eurotrance music blaring from huge mobile panini vans. All serving food and coffee as good as anything you can buy in a decent Italian restaurant in the US. The Italians love food, and good food. Umm, so do I so it's a dangerous combination! The racing? Oh yes! Well, as expected this is a Ducati track, meaning, they really always perform well here and this weekend wasn't any different, however, MotoGP 250 superstar Marco Simoncelliput in an appearance for the Aprillia Superbike team and finished third in race two! To the delight of the many fans that turned out to watch the Italian. With Ducati riders, Haga and Fabrizio winning race 1 and race 2 respectively, the weekend wasn't helpful for title contender Ben Spies.But that's racing I guess!! A quick hop skip, quick plane trip and we're off Paris, then a swift drive to Burgundy and Magny Cours!I have a soft spot for France. I spent many years motorcycling here (or there), I would go on school trips all through junior school, the food, language, countryside, everything about the country I love. Even my wife Emily and I were engaged in Paris 23 years ago! This time I'm staying in a converted 16th Century converted building next to the church in the centre of a very old town by the name of La Charite-sur-Loire. The apartment itself backs up to the 12th century Clunic priory church of Notre Dame. Notably, the winding narrow medieval stone staircase inside the apartment will always stick in my mind because it felt like you were walking up a tower (which you were) to fire arrows upon the invading (insert favourite invading medieval army here). The town itself is one of a few towns in France that is known as the "City of Books", and as you'd expect, there's a lot of booksellers, with new, used and antique books, most in French, all for sale! Back to the track at Magny Cours, which is out in the middle of nowhere and so it is a nice pleasant and relaxing 20+ minute drive. However, I would only find out after I returned home that my rather enthusiastic driving style would be rewarded with four driving violations, in other words, speeding tickets from some sneaky hidden speeding camera somewhere en route between the apartment and the track. No flashes to alert you, nothing. Perhaps the cows were disguised as speed cameras, who knows..but there you go. The price of racing I suppose! This weekend would fare a little better for Ben's championship attempt as he would go onto win race 1.However, Noriyuki Haga would maintain his side of the championship tussle by winning race 2.This track is huge! A scooter (Thanks Maio! [Merrigalli]) is essential. There's plenty of opportunities to capture something a little bit different, with brightly coloured kerbs, huge swathes of green paint and the light is actually quite good there (or here)...One thing that struck me, especially as I spent a lot of time working in and out of the Yamaha garage was watching the extremely high level of team work, combined with a good sense of humour to get the work done. With Tom Houseworth who has been with Ben for years, and Gregg 'Woody" Wood, who came on board the Spies championship efforts a few races previously the team developed and second sense for making sure all their work played out.With the championship now set to come down to the final race in Portimao, Portugal, the weekend is over. Next, we head home to California for a few days, then it's off to Australia and Phillip Island for MotoGP.

Rewind! Valentino Rossi sells himself for $8500!

2009-09-23T01:43:00.000-07:00

Ciao!
As they say here as I sit outside of my accommodations in the region known as Emilia Romagna. I am here waiting for the start of the final push (last three rounds) to the end of the World Superbike Championship which kicks off at Imola, just down the road from where I am staying. Heading onto Magny Cours then winding up in Portimao on the Algarve in Portugal.

After months of having the galleries of AutoMotoPhoto being non functional, I'm pleased to inform everyone they have been restored and are working with all versions of flash! If you haven't had a chance to catch up, make a big cup of coffee, tea, whatever, sit down and browse. So let's catch up, starting with the last race first and work backwards. It's a long post!

One of the most amazing things happened at the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP this past August. Very moving for both my wife who has supported me through my travels to get this business started and functioning, and extremely very beneficial for a cause she and I both believe in. I had offered Don Emde and the folks at Riders For Health a print to be sold for auction that would take place on Friday morning at Indianapolis. You can read more about Riders for Health here.

Long story short........

Don Emde had taken the print, a 20"x24" on canvas print to his Parts Unlimited dealers meeting on Thursday evening prior and had it in his truck. During the evening where Valentino Rossi signs AGV helmets to give to the various dealer reps at the function, Don thought he'd see if he could get Valentino Rossi to sign the print. Which he did and by all accounts was fascinated by what he saw. The plan for the Friday auction, which was run very much on schedule, was to have each rider bring an item for auction. For example, Randy De Puniet brought his boots, Nicky Hayden brought a Tissot watch and so forth. So you can imagine that when Valentino Rossi decided to "bring" my picture what an incredible honour (and thrill) this was for me. So after some banter, and some Q&A's from the crowd it was time for the auction. On stage with Valentino Rossi, were good friends Toby Moody and Ralph Shaheen...I'll let Dan Lo's video from the event tell the whole story..

As I said before, this was huge for Riders for Health, and huge for me and my wife on a personal level..and Darren Beatty captured a very special moment for which I am incredible grateful. Weather-wise the weekend was good, aside from Friday afternoon when we had some rain. The crowds were good, and the organisation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was as always, first rate. One complaint though, the lack of willingness by those driving golf carts to be flexible and pick up photographers and being told that they "weren't authorised" was a little distressing. It's a huge facility and not everyone has access to a scooter, so hopefully we can get something done for next years visit. I can't wait, and as someone suggested on my FaceBook Fan Page, I'm going to have to top this one next year!

Coincidentally, it was a good weekend for Nicky Hayden, and maybe it was a "sign" that he graced the cover of Motorcycle Racer Magazine with one of my shots taken at Catalunya...
Continuing on our trip back through time, was a visit to the Czech Republic for the MotoGP races at Brno. Racing aside, there is a lot to see in this country. Beer and sausages and Indian food downstairs from my apartment, it was certainly a wonderful trip and I look forward to returning next year. Visiting caves deep underground and relics of castles. Speaking of places with castles...and also noted for it's beer and sausages. I visited the UK for both World Superbike and MotoGP, and being that they were only weeks apart it felt like I had never left. It was good to visit my Mum in Bath, see some of the old stomping ground where I met my wife and enjoy some fine foods from a small organic butchers in Duffield by the name of "Croots". If you happen to be nearby, make a point to stop in and check out their produce. Wonderful foods, and wonderful service.

Between both events in the UK, we had my "home" race. Where for one race weekend I am able to be with Emily. I can sleep in my own bed, cook in my own kitchen and be home with all my little furry friends, Thor, Widget and Bean. It makes a difference especially when you travel as much as those covering racing worldwide to just be around your own "stuff". We also had a really cool Facebook "Friends" 10 minute gathering at the track on Friday evening, just to be able to put some faces to the names with who we "chat" online with. .Well, I think that's enough reading for now. Once again, check out AutoMotoPhotofor all the race weekend updates. I'm off to the see the Adriatic this afternoon, deciding the sea will be far more inviting than a warm, hot city (such as Bologna). So watch this space for updates from this weeks travels. Then next week it's onto Magny Cours in Burgundy. Two wonderful food and wine regions with good racing at either end...and a BIG THANKS to Randy Mamola for his help. It means a lot Randy. You and your family, Sharon are special people to both Emily and I. I look forward to seeing you all again soon. Oh, and good luck this week Chaz!

Ciao for now and thanks for reading...

Mat Mladin Retires | End of an era perhaps?

2009-07-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

One week and a few days before I leave for Brno...

Well, I've almost got my site back to normal, and will be updating the blog as well, just as if I didn't need any more distractions, Mat Mladin announced that at the New Jersey Motorsports Park will be his last racing event...

So with that in mind, I have put together a little slideshow of images from the past few years, not in any particular order, but just images I like...and to add I have enjoyed capturing Mat, Mat and Ben and all the interaction during my tenure working with the AMA..

Good luck Mat! Now for some pictures..

Interlude | Interview with Andrew Wheeler (me) | Updates coming this week

2009-07-06T12:17:00.001-07:00

Just back from the US GP at Laguna and have a few things to catch up on. I'll be updating my website, and this blog, all this week playing catch up. In the meantime please check out this wonderful vignette made by Chris Matye and his wonderful colleagues at OTT - On The Throttle.

It can be run full screen by clicking on the little "icon" to the left of the volume adjustment on the status bar. Updates coming!

Is it WSBK or MotoGP? - Jerez then Monza..Infineon, Miller, Catalunya and Donington up next!

2009-06-30T01:49:00.000-07:00

I need my own personal jet.

Oh boy....first I'd like to apologise for being so behind in updating to this blog. So without further ado, make a big pot of tea of coffee, find a comfy spot and let's have a trip around Europe and North America, starting with Southern Spain, Jerez, a new track and a new destination for me.Amazing place. The picture above was taken from the window of my bedroom in the heart of the city, and in fact the centre of the flamenco universe. Imagine warm balmy evenings, a soft fragrant breeze blowing through the open windows and sounds of clapping, dancing, guitars and castanets..seriously. Every evening this would be the sounds greeting you. The city itself is becoming pedestrianized and the streets are extremely narrow to navigate with a car..even the GPS cuts out from time to time due to the tall buildings gathered close to the sidewalks. Then there is the food. If you're a lover of seafood, get to the market early, like silly early. You'll have to wait in line for anywheres up to 40 minutes, but the choices are amazing...Don't forget though, this is the home of Sherry (Jerez, Sherry..gettit?!) and a visit here wouldn't be complete without taking one of the many tours of the bodegas that exist within easy reach of the centre of town.Did I mention the race weekend wasn't bad either?You have to experience this racetrack, nothing but colour, and people stacked all around the track, clapping and chanting as only the Spanish can do..it's simply breathtaking, and of course, the crowd love Valentino..who didn't disappoint either...Next stop would be Monza!
Yet another new track and a new destination for me in the world of racing. I was fortunate enough to find a residence hotel less than 4km from the circuit, which meant and easy in and out at the end of the day but also allowed for little side trips into Milan (where I spent an enjoyable afternoon with Ben Spies' Mum and Dad, Mary and Henry walking around the Mall and the Duomo)This racetrack is literally soaked in history. If anyone has ever watched the film "Grand Prix" you'll know what I mean. The banking, albeit sadly crumbling away, is there, the trees remind you that it is still a park where people run, walk their dogs and ride their horses even during the race weekend, all kept in one spot by a 20 foot perimeter wall. But to see the banking gives one goose bumps.This time the hero's of the hour are Ben Spies, Michele Fabrizo and of course, Noriyuki Haga. Haga has everything to lose and Spies and Fabrizio are playing catch up. This being Yamaha Italia's home race (the factory where both the MotoGP and World Superbike Teams are based is literally a stones throw away) and with Ben Spies being made an honorary Italian there's a lot of pressure on everyone. I was fortunate to have been given a tour of the workshops and even encountered Uchio, Valentino Rossi's mate returning with the motor home whilst I was leaving. A quick look into the garage where all the GP trailers are stored revealed a whole collection of shrink wrapped GP bikes from all years. Sadly no photos (they're touchy about that) but still, the visit was worth the time.
Race day, and the weekend in general was a lot of fun. Some folks from back home were there, Andrea, Chuck, Rome and his girlfriend Misa, and with Ben Spies and Jake Zemke (subbing for John Hopkins and both with their respective crew chiefs) it started to feel like the AMA was here..but no. Sadly Ben would run out of gas in race 1 after a race restart following a pretty horrific crash into the first chicane. Race two however, Ben won. All in all, a wonderful weekend, although the banking almost claimed another life, MINE! After slipping on some crumbling concrete, then being whacked in the back of the head by my camera and followed by falling chest first onto an old crash barrier strut left Italy with a few memories I wish I didn't have..!More this week from Infineon and the AMA, Miller and World Superbike, MotoGP from Catalunya and my third trip back to the UK in 20 years, World Superbikes from Donington..all coming this week...

Don't Panic - World Superbike, MotoGP and AMA Updates coming!

2009-06-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

Folks!

It's been a few weeks I know..but I've almost finished up a "sit down and have a cup of coffee" sized update..

It's coming...Back to work (I'm at Donington with Ben Spies, Haga and co for WSBK..)

It's Not All About Oranges - World Superbike Valencia and 19

2009-04-24T15:59:00.001-07:00

I love Spain. As I might've mentioned or waffled on about somewhere else within here, I love everything about the country, the people, lifestyle and culture (although I'm not a big fan of bullfighting but hey..). This was my first trip to Spain at the beginning of the year and the first time covering the World Superbike Series. After having my main suitcase go awol for a few days it finally turned up and I was able to get my life back on track. Still, it gave me the opportunity to go real shopping, to buy shoes, some clothes and other stuff one wouldn't ordinarily buy and interact with folks on a regular day to day basis...Ihad fun. Although, I stood out like a sore thumb, being that I only had shorts, a body warmer and sandals to wear..and it was cold!Onto the race weekend. Fans in Spain, really make covering the event something else, from cheering and clapping as riders race each, to clapping and cheering when a rider gets up after having a spill. It's just so good natured....Well, this weekend was a little more special, as the Yamaha Italia team, and Team Manager Massimo Meregalli in particular have offered me the use of Ben Spies' scooter when he's out on track and during his sessions.So it was with great relief that I head out to cover the race aboard "Number19"..Whereupon I meet fellow photographer Andrew Northcott, with who I have been friends for quite some time.There we are, two burly chaps aboard this scooter when Andrew screams "I'm slipping I'm slipping" suddenly the front comes up and he almost drops off the back! What was really funny though was that the fans who were seated above us, started clapping when I saved it! Truly hilarious. So we drive to the top of the track to shoot some more and then decide to head back down to go through the tunnel that goes under the track and into the middle.As we pass the fans that previously clapped out misadventure, start to cheer and stand and do "the wave". Funniest thing ever. Unfortunately for Ben the weekend wouldn't be as good to him as it was in Qatar, a DNF (Did Not Finish) in the first race, and a second place podium in the second puts him a few points behind Noriyuki Haga. Still, it's a long year with plenty of races to go and things can change..That's all from me this week. I'll try and squeeze in a quickie update about the AMA race at Fontana that took place prior to this event. I also need to update my website too. I'm off to Jerez this weekend for MotoGP then onto Monza for Round 5 of the World Superbike Championship. Be safe and I'll be in touch.

Racing On Two Hemispheres - Phillip Island to Daytona

2009-03-28T16:45:00.001-07:00

I did wonder how I would fare. I was fine until 11.15 pm Friday night after the Daytona finally finished. My body decided that it was still somewhere over the Pacific and wasn't going to take no for an answer. I had to leave the media centre at the Daytona Speedway and get back to the house so I'd at least stand a chance of waking in the morning and catching my flight to come home...I did manage to wake up!

Within 6 days I travelled to Phillip Island to witness Ben Spies first victory in World Superbike and then hopped on a plane, had a surprise upgrade to Business (THANKS QANTAS) and was home for less than 10 hours before jetting off to Orlando for a quick drive to Daytona for the"new" incarnation of the AMA. I'd be lying if I didn't mention that witnessing Ben win wasn't a thrill for me on a personal level. In his first weekend in a new series, on an untested bike, the new Yamaha "Big Bang" R1, on new tyres (Pirelli's instead of Dunlops) and with a new team, but with his old AMA crew cheif Tom Houseworth by his side Ben did really well in race two. Race 1 didn't go to plan, but then again I think everyone was raring to go. And so it was all hands on deck and something had to give. Sadly it was Ben that got pushed out into the kitty litter, but he kept it up and kept on pushing to get back to front. Race two, however, was simply magical. I had gone to Phillip Island to write a "fly on the wall" story for RoadracerX about Spies' first foray into the world of World Superbikes. How he thought, how he felt and so on. I was amazed to see such a transformation in Ben. Relaxed, confident and unhurried, we chatted on the Wednesday before the race and I asked him questions that were more about him, his thoughts on how he would do and things a little more personal. I found, contrary to my initial an entirely different person than the Ben I had known in the AMA for the last how many years. I have to admit I had a really nice time chatting with with Ben, and you'll get to see the article, entitled "Spies Around The World" in the upcoming edition of RoadracerX. I hope you like it and I'd appreciate any feedback.So then onto Daytona. Sublime to the ridiculous? Daytona isn't my most favourite place in the world. In fact, none of the teams like Daytona. The saying goes, that the best thing about Daytona is watching it disappear in the distance as the planes wheels leave the runway. Arriving Tuesday I drove to my house in New Smyrna Beach. Daytona is more about folks having a good time on Main Street. The racing is really secondary to everyone who is there and the crowds in the stands and at the track reflected that. Even British rider Neil Hodgson commented that there were more riders on track in the Superbike race than fans in the stands. Still, it was good to see bikes racing back in the USA and also good to see Mladin win, and Hodgson coming in third. That said, it does look like the Suzuki's are dominating again. So no change there. That was Thursday. Next up the Daytona 200, under the lights (see first image above for the race start).For the life of me I just can't see the point of this. I'll agree that from a working point of view it's actually rather comfortable, no need for sunscreen, it's cool and comfortable but it's a novelty that on a personal level doesn't add anything and I'll admit to not being too keen on the "Pacety Car" and the rolling starts. I suppose things change, but bike racing, any form of racing, the start, knowing how to feather the clutch and let it go is a skill and one of those things that makes a racer, a racer, having the skill to anticipate the lights going from red to green (or out) and then letting it go.Well, that's all from me for now. I'll add my Fontana update Tuesday along with images to my site when I'm in Valencia prior to covering the World Superbike races from the Circuito Ricardo Tormo. My website has been updated and there are images in the archive. Bye for now!

It's Coming! From Phillip Island to Daytona to Fontana!

2009-03-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Folks, it's been an odd and busy year so far. I'll be posting an update tomorrow and would likr to thank all who have contacted me in the meantime.

Wheeler, is going global. Updates tomorrow!

Rossi-Stoner Laguna Seca 2008 Battle - Unique Banner Print Now Available

2009-02-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

I typically do not sell prints.

I decided to put together the event of 2008 that turned the corner for the battle for the 2008 MotoGP Championship. The entire sequence where Valentino Rossi passed Casey Stoner in the dirt is now available in a 96x7 inch print in a simulated 35mm fuji film border. To find out more simply click on the link here: Rossi-Stoner Laguna Seca Print