Welcome to the Riders’ Quarter!
You are standing in the former riders’ quarter, also known as the paddock. Here, riders could withdraw from the public and prepare themselves for the race. The paddock also housed the pit lane, where mechanics readied the motorcycles for competition.
The riders’ quarter was also where privateers lived and slept, together with their mechanics and close ones. In the 1950s, a group of brave private riders travelled from circuit to circuit — a lifestyle reminiscent of a circus. With trucks, caravans, and cars fully packed, they journeyed together and settled in the paddocks.
These privateers lived for motorsport, despite the many challenges and the unforgettable camaraderie. Costs always had to be carefully weighed against potential rewards, while factory riders toured luxuriously with the support of their manufacturers, winning most of the prize money. Facilities in the paddocks improved significantly during the 1970s.
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