Malaysian Motogp, Sepang, 8 - 10 October 2004

[logpoacher]

I am based in Bangkok and I am thinking of going to the MotoGP at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia, 8th to 10th October, 2004, and have a few questions that I would be grateful for some help with:

What's the best cheap way of getting there. I'm retired, so speed is not of the essence but economy is?

Where is it best to stay - in Kuala Lumpur and travel (how?) to the circuit every day, or nearer the circuit?

Can anyone recommend any hotels?

Can anyone recommend a Bangkok travel agent that organises packages?

Has anyone been to the Sepang circuit as a spectator and if so, what sort of ticket would they recommend, e.g. entrance only, grandstands, etc.

Do Thais need a visa for Malaysia?

Anything else you think might be helpful!

Thanks,

Log Poacher

[grahamb]

I can't help with most of your questions but I have visited Sepang. I went for the first F1 GP there.

At the time, I was based in Hong Kong and a few of us travelled down from there. Someone else arranged the hotel and I can't remember where it was... We stayed in KL and arranged a bus out to the circuit. In those days, there wasn't much between KL and the circuit and all the hotels by the circuit were booked by the teams. Things may have changed nowadays. The bus ride was OK as there were a few of us but IIRC it was quite a distance.

We had tickets for the grandstand that looks out onto the 'back' of the circuit - the start/finish straight is parallel to another straight and that was the one we overlooked. It was a pretty good position because we could see quite a lot of the circuit - it is very well laid out with quite a few corners, etc. to see and big screens showing you the action you can't see. OK, it didn't have the excitement of the start/finish straight but it was also a lot less money with possibly better views (the view on the start/finish side may be partly blocked by the pits.) It looked like there were some good places to stand around the edge of the circuit as well - grass banks, etc. so that may also be an option (I didn't investigate those).

Have a good trip down there!