MotoGP heroes celebrated on Festival of Speed Balcony

Peering down and out across the Festival site we had 2000 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr., five-time 500cc champ Mick Doohan, 12-time 500cc GP winner Randy Mamola and current Ducati rider Enea Bastianini. Seeing these guys together would be crazy enough anywhere else, but alongside them were a few other famous faces. 

Two-time Champion Casey Stoner was up on the balcony as well, plus MotoGP rookie Augusto Fernandez, KTM man Brad Binder, 1999 500cc World Champion Àlex Crivillé, 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz, current RNF rider Raul Fernandez and three-time world champion Freddie Spencer.

While not on the balcony, it was a complete joy to see Pol Espargaró back on a motorcycle for the first time since a huge crash during practice for the 2023 Portuguese GP. The massive incident fractured eight bones in his body, necessitated facial surgery and caused multiple other injuries, which is why we were so delighted to have him at the Festival.

Another rider sadly not on the balcony but present at the Festival was 2022 MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia, fresh from the Dutch GP with a race win aboard his Ducati Desmosedici GP23. We were also glad to welcome motorcycle racing legend Giacomo Agostini and 1987 world champion Wayne Gardener for numerous runs up the Hill throughout the weekend.