It's very cloudy here on race day at CotA MotoGP. And humid. Young people are streaming in from all corners, many on motorcycles and they don't seem to be needing CotA's ferris wheel nor the roller coaster for entertainment. The paddock is lively with VIP pass holders looking to spy a rider for a selfie or autograph. We spoke with one fan girl yesterday who had been standing in the sun waiting for Zarco for an hour—Zarco!

Some American fan guy walked up and said something to a very somber-looking Alberto Puig yesterday and then walked away, leaving the Spanish ex-rider looking like he just smelled something very bad. In this country few forget it when someone sh*t-talks Nicky Hayden.

There is a very large contingent of Latin-type people here, waiting by the back of the Pramac garage for Jorge Martin. A near hoard. They were all very excited at the chance to see him and none were speaking English. Also, none of them seemed to give a rats ass about the sad Bagger class.

It's said that a patch of rain will hit the track today around noon.

The power of Nick is everywhere: