I was invited along to joint the celebrations, and they really did put on a great show.
There was various things going on such as safety riding classes, and enduro race and a selection of road races. I was asked to join the "Old Stars" race, which was to be a five lap dash on a CBR150. Oooo errrr!
The bike's are very slow (compared to an NSR250!), but racing's racing, so everyone gave it their all.
All the old Thai and Asian champions were out there and 'strangely' I found myself on the last place on the grid of 18 bikes, with my old nemesis, Christmas Wilairoj, on the front row. Now that's a little coincidental!
5 laps isn't many, but takes forever on a CBR150, and I ended up 2nd behind Christmas
They then threw the top 5 finishers in the "All Stars" race at the end of the day, and it was a case of dejavu as I found that I'd been given the last place on the grid again.
Anyway, same deal, a 5 lap dash to the flag.
Christmas and Direk Achawong (ex Thai and Asian Champion) got into the lead straight away, and I battled my way up to join them on lap 2. The three of us pulled away swapping the lead two or three times a lap. I got into the lead on the last lap but lost the front through the fastest turn on the course and had to back off, which let Christmas outdrive me up the hill and make his pass. I couldn't get back by and had to settle for second again, just 0.1 sec behind him at the line.
Still, I had a good time and it was good to see all the old riders again. They had lots of sexy girls there dancing and just walking about being..well...pretty, and I had a chat and a photo session with a couple of Thai movie stars so that was good.
Also got the chance to wish Ratthapark Wilairoj good luck for the season. Ratthapark (nickname Film) is Christmas's son, and he will be riding for Team Stop & Go this year in GP. He's a great kid and is definitely Thailand's best ever hope for World Championship racing. I've known him since I first met Christmas nearly 14 years ago and I really do wish him all the best.
Hopefully in a couple more years we'll see Christmas's youngest son out there in GP too. He's just cleaned up in the Thailand 150 Championship and I'm happy to say that we (TYGA) have been supporting him, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that he can help us take our name to GP in a year or two. He's already down to be doing selected Spanish rounds and even a wildcard in the Malaysian GP, so we'll be there to cheer him on.
Well, that's about it. Not a bad way to spend the day.