There's full and detailed time table of events here, but unless your Japanese is up to scratch it won't be much use.

Thursday 26th

Free Practice, between 9:15 and 18:10 (finishing 10:10am UK time)

Friday 27th

Qualifying, between 9:20 and 18:45 (finishing 10:45am UK time)

Teams are split into A and B groups to reduce the number of bikes on the track at any one time, so there are six sub-sessions (Group A rider 1 through to Group B rider 3) for each lump of practice and qualifying. This makes it a bit of a nightmare to work out who has qualified where, particularly if one or more sessions are hit by one of the thunderstorms forecast for this year. Friday evening also sees a brief night practice.

Saturday 28th

Superpole Special Stage for fastest ten teams, between 15:30 and 16:30 (finishing 08:30am UK time)

This is a kind of double-header Superpole session. First the slowest riders from each of the top ten fastest teams set a time on a single flying lap, then the fastest riders from each of the top ten fastest teams have a go.

The two parts are known as "Attack" and "Jump Up", and each rider chooses a musical sound track to accompany his flying lap, played out over the commentary PA system as his performance is relayed on giant TV screens to the tens of thousands of spectators who turn up to watch this most Japanese of events.

The rider who holds the fastest time sits in a special throne, surrounded by "Race Queen" brolly dollies of course, until his time is beaten and he is deposed by the quicker rider. It's all very Japanese, and is followed by the Suzuka Eve festival which features a ride-in by local motorcyclists, displays by cheerleaders, impenetrable Manga cartoon re-enactments, appearances by the top riders, a pit walk for the fans, and of course more chances to photograph the Race Queens.

Sunday 29th

Suzuka 8H Race, 11:30 to 19:30 (finishing 11:30am UK time)

Oh yes, and there's a race too.

Where

Suzuka is on the Eastern coast of Japan, a couple of hundred miles south of Tokyo. The closest big cities are Nagoya and Tsu. The race is held at the end of the rainy season and almost always features incredibly hot and humid weather, with the odd thunderstorm thrown in for good measure (forecast for Sunday this year). As a European (particularly a northern one) it's difficult to imagine just how humid and energy-sapping the weather conditions can get and all of the experienced teams will go to great lengths to keep their riders hydrated and cool.

For Google Earth users, the location is 34,50'40.00" N , 136,32'25.00" E - Search for "Suzuka" and the circuit is to the south west.

"Useful" Links

Motoracing-Japan: The most useful and reliable source for Suzuka information on the web: www.motoracing-japan.com/english/index.html

I think this webcam - showing the famous Suzuka ferris wheel - is live. Just a shame it's not pointing the other way, towards pitlane: webcam.wni.co.jp/ MTK08875/loop.html

Live Timing might be on the one of the following links, maybe:

www.mobilityland.co.jp/result_s/index.html

8h.suzuki.co.jp/clive/clive.php

Online results are here: www.mobilityland.co.jp/result_s/2007/8tai/index.html

The Race Queens (Brolly Dollies) have their own section of the official Suzuka site: www.mobilityland.co.jp/8tai/girl/girl.html Many of them are celebrities in their own right.

Any more thoughts or comments?

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