Sachsenring Review: And now for our special guest

A few races ago I suggested to Valentino Rossi and his immediate entourage that he come to the British Eurosport commentary box at one of the remaining Grand Prix of the year.

The box at Catalunya was too far away, a walk through a public tunnel being too much of an ask for the world-wide sporting hero, Donington was to small to get two of us in let alone three, and at Assen he was too busy with Yamaha PR commitments.

The box at the Sachsenring was ideal as it was within the paddock, positioned just less than a whir of a scooter away from the Yamaha hospitality unit.

Yamaha hospitality in the paddock © DPPI

Reminding the towering giant of a PR guy who is William Favero on Friday that we'd talked about this, I cajoled him into a trip from the espresso haven that is the Yamaha unit across to the spacious box that overlooked the home straight, just about level with the fifth row of the grid for the afternoon's races.

He was surprised to see I was not pulling his (large) leg at how close and easy it was for Valentino to come and do some words on the 125 race after he'd got out of his leathers post warm-up debrief, but pre early lunch.

"We can't do it at Laguna because there are no two-stroke, Brno is the other side of the track, Misano will be a casino (home race), Indianapolis we don't know where the box is, while Japan, Australia and Malaysia are early morning races and Valencia is a nightmare," I said hoping that my emphasis on 'this-is-the-race-to-do-it' was getting through.

We checked telephone numbers there and then and said to keep in touch.

"I'll call you when Vale's got out of his leathers and give you an idea," said William in perfect English with that ubiquitous Italian accent.

I said to my colleague Julian when I returned to my seat in the press office that I may have VR coming to the box on Sunday, and with his face absorbing my threat of bringing some big names into the box for the remaining races of the year hitting home with him as no idle threat, his eyes grew to the size of the moon.

"You're joking ..."

To be honest I sort of forgot about it for the evening as we socialised in a cheap pizza restaurant in nearby Chemntiz where we were staying, but remembered to add it to my notes for qualifying when I had my standard hour to myself in the press office first thing on Saturday morning, the noise-cancelling Sonys locking the outside world out for a while.

"... and don't forget to tune into the 125 race tomorrow ladies and gentlemen, as Valentino Rossi is 95 percent certain to come to the box here for a few laps," I said with Julian waving his hands at me, trying to save me from digging a hole for myself in case he didn't turn up.

I gave him an 'it'll be OK' wave of the hand, but deep down knew that I could very well incur the wrath of Rossi fans watching, slagging me off on forums and in emails to my boss.

It was worth the punt.

William Favero © Yamaha

Into Sunday morning after a slumber that my alarm only just awoke me from, and I felt terrible after not having my first-thing fix of fruit and yogurt. I managed to get going with a fix of freshly squeezed orange juice from Marlboro's uber-swanky hospitality.

By the time we arrived into the box I felt on par and ready for something, something that would make the day special. I just knew something would happen. I am not into crystal balls, but I had a feeling.

Into the 125 race and visitor to the box the day before during 250cc qualifying, Bradley Smith, is riding well at the head of the opening stanza.

But then something catches my eye - my phone lighting up with a text message from Randy Mamola who's down at Turn One with Bradley's father, Alan.

'Has it been declared a wet race?' said the text message. As I read it I see I've had a missed call too. 'What idiot has called me during a race for crying out loud?' I think. It was from Yamaha's William and before I can text him, he texts me, 'Get ready! Vale might come in few minutes! W'

True to his word, he arrived in five minutes, walking into the box as arranged, unannounced, but he was on his own. My heart sank. He was here with bad news. 'VR 46' wasn't coming and we'd have to leave it to some other day ... that would get postponed again and then probably never happen.

But there was a thumbs up. I admit my heart beat a touch faster.

Things like this do not happen very often.

We then got notification of a break through our right ear, just as the door opened again.

Valentino entered the box with Davide Brivio and Uccio Salucci, his best mate from school who you've all seen in the garage helping his buddy.

We said our 'Ciaos' and lost interest in the race for what seemed like three laps. With just two chairs in the booth he quickly sat down on the one I don't use and studied where things were at in the race. I could see him casting his eye over the way I do my notes and highlight things in my paperwork before he looked over Julian's.

Truth told, it was only about a lap before we came back live for me to introduce Valentino Rossi as our guest commentator for a few laps.

Valentino Rossi, Toby Moody, and Julian Ryder in the Eurosport commentary booth © Toby Moody/Chris Hughes

Twelve laps remained of the 125 race as I introduced a man who has won 91 Grands Prix.

Good memories from 125? The Italian accent was in full flow.

"Yes. Start with 125 in 1996. Two years there a lot of great races. 125 is great fun to see great fun to ride. It's old style racing you know, so great battle to the end, and a good show."

Is it a bit it more serious now in you're in MotoGP?

"Not more serious - (he then asks his Italian colleagues behind him what the word was in English) more boring, not more serious. A lot more technical; a lot of electronics; unfortunately a lot less battle compared to the 500 or also the 990, so I think it is a bad way for the show."

Important words that just came out of his brain without any ulterior motive as that's what he thinks, and you have to say he might just be right.

Still having fun?

"Yes, for sure. To ride these type of bikes. A lot of grip on the edge, but I like make battle."

And did he have some great battles!

We get interrupted by Sergio Gadea, on screen, in the gravel, stationary, but upright. We immediately get a replay with our new commentator immediately chipping in that is was a 125 seizure.

Quick as a flash, VR: "I think he broken de engine."

A moment later we were back with the action at the front of the field only for Valentino to seriously say, "You are for Bradley, No?" We politely said "errrr yes ..."

Chris Hughes from Bridgestone was already in with us in the box, remembering at the last minute that we might have a guest. He grabbed my camera and took some pictures.

At this point I happened to see the door open again with our technical commentator Neil Spalding having the shock of his life, confronted with four Yamaha shirts including VR in a box that is normally empty during 125. If only I could have got a picture of his face; pure 'What ...?'

Valentino had a tap on the shoulder half a dozen laps before the end of the race from Davide Brivio of FIAT Yamaha, but the yellow hatted rider pointed towards the TV screen with all of the action on track coming to a head. He wanted to stay and enjoy the laps, opting to arrive a little late for his early lunch before his MotoGP race two and a half hours later.

Valentino Rossi starts another lap at the Sachsenring © Back Page Images

Magic; we were going to get him all the way to the end. Result!

It struck me that was genuinely happy to watch the race and make some comments along the way. It was not a PR gig with people asking him to stand on his back legs and do tricks.

No. It was Rossi enjoying what he does best; racing a motorcycle and enjoying it at the same time. He just happened to be sitting two feet from me for that time rather than clicking it into sixth gear at 180 mph.

It was an experience to have him there as a current racer rather than a retired one.

As a journalist one should never feel overawed, but I was for a minute - or ten. And I'm not afraid to admit it.