Wight hot!
By TMX Archives on 11th Mar 04
Gore Basin on the Isle of Wight is the venue for what will most certainly, definitely and without a doubt be a weekend of awesome racing. Gore Basin on the Isle of Wight is the venue for what will most certainly, definitely and without a doubt be a weekend of awesome racing. And it will also be your first chance in four long years to soak up the unique GP atmosphere without travelling abroad.Now these two pages aren't intended to be a preview for the event (that'll come a little further down the line) - think of them more as a handy guide to getting there, getting in and getting the most out of the weekend.Getting thereFor those of you without a GCSE in geography or a decent road atlas, the Isle of Wight is an island off the south coast of England - just find Southampton and head south.The Isle of Wight may be a ferry ride away but it's a tourist favourite - just two weeks after the GP the island hosts a major rock festival - so is fully geared up to deal with moving large numbers of people across the Solent. Extra ferries will be laid on but, even if it's left untouched, the schedule for May provides a whopping 216 crossings daily catering for 60,000 return passengers. So getting there will not be a problem.One of the GP's major sponsors is the Wightlink ferry company so loads of great deals have been struck to minimise the impact on race fans' finances. But bear in mind that ferry crossings both ways need to be pre-booked and run to a strict timetable.You can cross from Portsmouth to Fishbourne or from Lymington to Yarmouth with a car or simply jump off a train at Portsmouth Harbour railway station and sail to Ryde. Coach transfers to the track will be laid on for all foot passengers to the IoW ferry ports.For more ferry information call 0870 582 7744, write to Wightlink Ltd, PO Box 59, Portsmouth PO1 2XB or go to www.wightlink.co.ukAccommodationOkay, so you've booked your crossing and are good to go - all you need is somewhere to stay for the weekend.Camping is available at the track with top-notch facilities to keep the tent-dwellers smiling for just a tenner - but if you fancy a roof over your head that shouldn't be a problem. Like we've already said, the Isle of Wight is geared up for tourists and there's no shortage of B&Bs and hotels.For accommodation details call 01983 813813 or go to www.islandbreaks.co.ukTicketsAdmission to the GP is 25 for the full weekend, 10 for just the Saturday and 20 for just the Sunday. And it's free for accompanied children under 14.Your can buy your tickets on the gate or get them online now by going to the official event website at www.britmxgp.com where you'll also find tons of useful information concerning the event.And by buying online you'll also be able to take advantage of some great discounts on ferry crossings, get whisked through the express gate so you dodge the queues and reserve your copy of the 100-page, dbr-produced super souvenir programme. So what are you waiting for?Other attractionsObviously, we're all going for the racing and the chance to cheer on our British heroes as they take on the best in the world. But away from the motos there's a packed programme of events to keep everyone happy - from family fun to more grown-up entertainment.There will be live bands, trade stands, fashion shows, a kids' interactive area plus an Animal Arena - that's the company, not a zoo. And even Sutty's getting in on the act, organising the dbr freestyle arena where Britain's best FMXers will be in action alongside minibike races.More infoEverything you need to know about the GP is available online at the special www.britmxgp.com website or by calling the information hotlines on 01983 538980/01983 538981.