Many riders from the MXGP World Championships paddock were treated to a fascinating display of culture today as the Media Event prior to The Oriental Beauty Valley MXGP of China took place near to the Shanghai International Off-Road Circuit.

The riders were taken to the beautiful Fengxian District Museum, which was opened just before MXGP’s last visit here five years ago, and showcases the history of the Fengxian district which dates back nearly 9,000 years.One of China’s national first-grade museums, the facility issued each visitor with an earpiece to enable them to follow the tour guide’s explanations of the important artefacts on display.

Part of the tour included the recently-opened Exhibition, titled “Crafts of Nature – Essence of Ancient Chinese Science and Technology.” There the riders and team staff could see bronze ware, ceramics, clothing and architectural models of some of China’s earliest outdoor structures.The exhibit contains genuine dragon robes worn by the Emperor Qianglong and his Queen of the Qing Dynasty, which dates back to 1638.

Visitors were invited to make their own souvenir stamps in the traditional Chinese fashion, and some attempted to solve ancient Luban Lock puzzles from interlocking wooden pieces… not all were successful!

From there, the visitors were taken by coach to the Yanzi Institute, built in honour of the disciple of Confucius, the great philosopher known as the first teacher in China who established teaching as a vocation over 2,500 years ago.The Institute displays stories of the sage Yanzi, who spread his teachings across the region as part of his philosophy of knowledge sharing.

The spectacular setting, including the Yanzi Memorial Hall with its great statue of the sage himself, gives way to a reception and canteen area where the visitors sampled the region’s famous Mooncakes, the traditional food of the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Several riders, including Alberto Forato from Standing Construct Honda, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider Rick Elzinga, and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP pilot Maxime Renaux, took the opportunity to learn how to make some for themselves!

Other riders present included reigning World Champion Jorge Prado and Simon Laengenfelder of the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team, current MXGP Championship leader Tim Gajser from Team HRC, Andrea Bonacorsi from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, Liam Everts from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with his father Stefan Everts, Mikkel Haarup and Camden McLellan from Monster Energy Triumph Racing, Thibault Benistant from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, Valentin Guillod and Kevin Horgmo from Team Ship to Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz, Kevin Brumann from Team SixtySeven Husqvarna, and Jens Walvoort from SB Racing KTM.

All of the riders were fascinated by the display of Chinese culture in what, for many, is their first visit to the country.They hadn’t completely forgotten about the upcoming racing, however, as MXGP title contenders Prado and Gajser both spoke to Lisa Leyland as part of the Paddock Talk series! All attentions now turn to the amended schedule for Sunday at what is sure to be an action-packed race day at The Oriental Beauty Valley MXGP of China!

TIMETABLE Sunday (Local Time): 7:25: 85cc Race (Local Race), 8:00 MX2 Free/Time Practice, 8:45 Free/Time Practice, 10:15 MX2 Race 1, 11:15 MXGP Race 1, 12:10 MX2 Race 2, 13:10 MXGP Race 2