"The weekend that turned tragic...R.I.P Marco Simoncelli." - 2011 Malaysian MotoGP
This thread contains 83 photos. Please allow ample time for the photos to download.
This thread also contains my emotional account of the greatest tragedy Sepang International Circuit had ever seen. Took me a while to get the courage to write the essay.
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I admit I was never a big MotoGP fan. I barely know the riders and the teams participating in MotoGP. However, when the opportunity to shoot MotoGP for Sepang International Circuit as one of their official photographer came I couldn?t pass it up.
I was there to cover three days of MotoGP, Friday until Sunday, and on Friday I was a bit like a fish out of water, not knowing who to shoot, who to concentrate on and so on. Mind you I did cover the MotoGP Test Sessions earlier in February but that was a relaxed unorganized shoot. The riders went on and off the track as they please and there were no specific events and timings. I was free to shoot who and however I wanted to.
As the days went on during the week, I began to appreciate MotoGP. One thing that differs MotoGP and my all-time favourite motorsports, Formula 1, was that no matter how high you set the shutter speed, they always look dynamic and in-motion in the photos. You could snap them at 1/2000s and they still look like they are moving fast. Same shutter speeds for F1 and the cars will look like it?s parking on the track.
I also began to get a grasp on the sport. I now recognise riders and various important team personnel. I got a grasp on how MotoGP function.
MotoGP seems to be more accessible to the public compared to the high-security, high celebrity quotient of Formula 1. Formula 1 seems to be catered for the high and mighty, access to the drivers are only for the privileged few.
I was quickly becoming excited about MotoGP. Friday and Saturday were actually fun days for me.
Little did I know things would turn horribly tragic on Sunday?
FRIDAY, 21st October 2011
As usual, arrived at Sepang International Circuit early to collect my Media Pass.
#1. The Media Pass.
http://img51.imageshack.**/img51/8167/29955310150422030682238.jpg
I rushed to the Media Centre and set up quickly. I was already missing 125cc and Moto2 practice session and I didn?t want to miss MotoGP practice. Strapped on my gears, slather a generous amount of sun block, loaded up on water bottles and headed out to Turn 1 inside. Yes, that?s my usual go-to corner the first day of any event.
#2. Alvaro Bautista of Rizla Suzuki and Colin Edwards of Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team heading out for practice.
http://img194.imageshack.**/img194/9168/2011motogp02.jpg
#3. Valentino Rossi of Ducati.
http://img705.imageshack.**/img705/4825/2011motogp06.jpg
#4. Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda Racing.
http://img41.imageshack.**/img41/3287/2011motogp08.jpg
#5. Newly crowned 2011 MotoGP Champion, Casey Stoner of Repsol Honda Team.
http://img197.imageshack.**/img197/6691/2011motogp10.jpg
This thread contains 83 photos. Please allow ample time for the photos to download.
This thread also contains my emotional account of the greatest tragedy Sepang International Circuit had ever seen. Took me a while to get the courage to write the essay.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I admit I was never a big MotoGP fan. I barely know the riders and the teams participating in MotoGP. However, when the opportunity to shoot MotoGP for Sepang International Circuit as one of their official photographer came I couldn?t pass it up.
I was there to cover three days of MotoGP, Friday until Sunday, and on Friday I was a bit like a fish out of water, not knowing who to shoot, who to concentrate on and so on. Mind you I did cover the MotoGP Test Sessions earlier in February but that was a relaxed unorganized shoot. The riders went on and off the track as they please and there were no specific events and timings. I was free to shoot who and however I wanted to.
As the days went on during the week, I began to appreciate MotoGP. One thing that differs MotoGP and my all-time favourite motorsports, Formula 1, was that no matter how high you set the shutter speed, they always look dynamic and in-motion in the photos. You could snap them at 1/2000s and they still look like they are moving fast. Same shutter speeds for F1 and the cars will look like it?s parking on the track.
I also began to get a grasp on the sport. I now recognise riders and various important team personnel. I got a grasp on how MotoGP function.
MotoGP seems to be more accessible to the public compared to the high-security, high celebrity quotient of Formula 1. Formula 1 seems to be catered for the high and mighty, access to the drivers are only for the privileged few.
I was quickly becoming excited about MotoGP. Friday and Saturday were actually fun days for me.
Little did I know things would turn horribly tragic on Sunday?
FRIDAY, 21st October 2011
As usual, arrived at Sepang International Circuit early to collect my Media Pass.
#1. The Media Pass.
http://img51.imageshack.**/img51/8167/29955310150422030682238.jpg
I rushed to the Media Centre and set up quickly. I was already missing 125cc and Moto2 practice session and I didn?t want to miss MotoGP practice. Strapped on my gears, slather a generous amount of sun block, loaded up on water bottles and headed out to Turn 1 inside. Yes, that?s my usual go-to corner the first day of any event.
#2. Alvaro Bautista of Rizla Suzuki and Colin Edwards of Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team heading out for practice.
http://img194.imageshack.**/img194/9168/2011motogp02.jpg
#3. Valentino Rossi of Ducati.
http://img705.imageshack.**/img705/4825/2011motogp06.jpg
#4. Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda Racing.
http://img41.imageshack.**/img41/3287/2011motogp08.jpg
#5. Newly crowned 2011 MotoGP Champion, Casey Stoner of Repsol Honda Team.
http://img197.imageshack.**/img197/6691/2011motogp10.jpg
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