One track, one day, one rule: Get Fast! Monster Energy motorcycle ‘Legends’ lay rubber at Silverstone

Take the best in the world, the best of all-time, the finest motorcycle sport tech, a smattering of special guests and block-book the historic Silverstone curves. A big splash of English sunshine? Why not. Monster Energy’s ‘Legends Day’ couldn’t have been better named. Some of the biggest personalities and fastest racers on two-wheels in series and events like MotoGP™, WorldSBK, the IoM TT, BSB dropped into the famous British Grand Prix circuit to hang out, hoon and have a blast.

MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia and fellow VR46 Academy members Franco Morbidelli, Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio were accompanied by Valentino Rossihimself as the Ducati Panigales and Yamaha R1s rattled the ceilings in the Silverstone pitlane. A few boxes along more Ducatis were in play for reigning WorldSBK #1 Alvaro Bautistaand teammate Nicolo Bulega. Superbike record breaker Jonathan Rea headed the Yamaha contingent but was chased by Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP duo Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins (even Yamaha Racing’s MD Lin Jarvis zipped up the leathers for a few laps). Fresh from scraping shoulders on hedgerows and garden walls were TT icons Michael Dunlop and John McGuinness and lap-record holder Peter Hickman also twisting the cable. 

Other visors were clicked into place: John Hopkins, Randy Mamola, Darryn Binder, Cal Crutchlow, Josh Brookes and even ex-F1 stars like Mark Webber. Fuel was burned and rubber abused as the vast collective of racing talent - boasting well over twenty FIM titles - gathered together for the first time.

Rossi, 45, is getting his adrenaline fix these days through cars but was clearly vibed to be back at Silverstone on two-wheels and find a good climate: “I was worried about the weather. I thought it might be eight degrees and rain but this is fantastic”. 

“I [always] try to have some time on the bike…because I don’t want to give up. I feel in quite good shape and, also, when you do a [track] day like this then you can push but still have fun because there is a bit of margin; you think ‘I’ll try the maximum…but I don’t need the Pole Position’. It’s a great feeling. It’s always difficult because it’s physical – the cars are easier – but it’s always fantastic.”

“I’m embracing the event!” said Rea while sitting in his race leathers and getting a trim in the barbershop and tattoo parlour Monster Energy set-up in the final box of pitlane. “This is so cool because I never usually get the chance to hang out with peers. I had a good chat with John McGuiness and Michael Dunlop and then sharing the track with GP guys, TT guys, BSB and my peers in Superbike in a really relaxed atmosphere is cool. When you are in the hustle and bustle of a race weekend then you are in your own little bubble worrying about your performance but here you can just enjoy riding a motorbike, hanging out with the crew and be less focused on performance.”

“It’s about having the chance to be on track with riders that you never usually would,” offered Quartararo who kicked back and even took his boss Lyn Jarvis for a tow. “It’s been a lot of fun and the first time I’ve ridden an R1 since 2021! It’s a great opportunity to take part in something unique.”

The Frenchman’s rival, Pecco Bagnaia, was even taking profit of the laps as a ‘tune-up’ for the Monster Energy British Grand Prix at Silverstone on the first weekend of August. “It’s incredible to have this mix of riders,” said the Italian. “Also, useful! I always struggle a bit with my first laps here at Silverstone and [riding the Panigale] is completely different, but the more you ride where you have to race then it helps.” The English venue also got a thumbs-up from the champ. “It’s a physically demanding circuit because it’s so fast and you have to be very precise with the changes of direction. I love it…but it’s also very tricky!”

Peter Hickman profited from ‘Legends Day’ to get his markers for circuit racing back into the ballpark after the daunting sphere of the TT. “I find the transition from short circuits to the road quite easy but coming back the other way is quite difficult! It’s interesting how differently we see things, view things or feel things.”

“Monster are good at looking after their athletes, and then putting us in places and situations we normally wouldn’t be in!” he grinned. “It’s cool that they can cut across the sports. At the TT recently we met some snowboarders that were there for the first time. Monster are helpful and they make things happen. I actually had no idea of the specifics of this event. I think they deliberately didn’t tell anyone. So, turning up to see Valentino on track, Johnny Rea, Bautista…there are loads. It’s a proper mix which is super-cool.”

Before the visors went down, the crew quaffed the food and beverages at the Silverstone Museum the night before. “General chit-chat and usually not about racing,” reveals Rea. “I mean, catching up with GP guys then you ask them how it’s going and I’m facing a bit of a difficult moment in Superbike and they are also interested. But it’s more normal life stuff though because the last thing athletes usually want to talk about is the day job. It’s pretty relaxed.”

Schedules mean compromise, and the ‘Legends Day’ cast list is unlikely to form-up again. Rossi summed it up best: “With Monster it’s always like a big family. I think I started with them in 2008 or 2009 so a long, long time ago. I feel the oldest here! But it’s also a pleasure because I have seen the evolution over the years. The way they approach everything is a bit like today: calm and trying to have fun together. We’re having a good time.”