By Marcella Gallace
Alex Farinelli is one of MotoGP’s leading photographers and follows the MotoGP circuit across the globe, all in a bid to capture some of the most striking moments the sport has to offer.
He can often be found in Valentino Rossi’s garage snapping photographs, walking the pits with Franco Morbidelli or camped at a race corner for the perfect shot.
His career as a sports photographer spans back to the 2011 San Marino GP in Imola, Italy. It was Alex’s first time attending the MotoGP live, a novice photographer at the time, he took the opportunity to do what he loved – take photos.
It would turn out to be the start of a beautiful love affair of sports photography for the self-taught Italian who turned his dream of following the MotoGP calendar into a reality. Today, Alex is part of a team of esteemed photographers in the field, who all travel to 19 circuits and across 16 countries for the MotoGP championship.
Alex kindly set some time aside from his busy schedule to share his thoughts on what it’s like to be a MotoGP photographer and the best photography spots the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli track has to offer.
What camera do you use?
I use a Sony camera. Sony Alpha9.
Where do you place yourself during a race for photography? Do you move around
We are a group of photographers. So we try to divide our tasks to cover the whole track to try not to lose the best situations of the race. We carefully tweak all our movements so we are usually across the circuit.
Tell us about the Misano Circuit (San Marino GP)?
Misano is a fairly flat track. There are no ups and downs. Fortunately, in the last few years, they have added many coloured escape routes, which helps a lot in making the photos nicer.
What are some of your favourite photography spots at Misano in the general access area?
I think there are two magical places to see the race at Misano. The support is really hot at the Brutapela Grandstand. Valentino Rossi’s fan club, a yellow sea, and the hill above the ‘Quercia’ curve. You have the view of a fairly large section of the track. There are a lot of people and a lot of support here.
What are your favourite five photography spots at Misano throughout the weekend?
Inside La Quercia (Turn 8)
La Quercia (from inside the track) is the historical curve of Misano. It is called this because when the track was built there was a big oak tree. The fans would climb on it to see the bikes pass. I like to shoot inside the track with the landscape view to capture the public that come to the race.
Outside La Quercia (Turn 8)
La Quercia (from outside the track), out of the corners, the rider’s body is very off the bike and in the background you have all the new colours of the track. It’s a very dynamic image that you can do from different perspectives.
Il Carro (Turn 14)
Il Carro is another famous Misano curve, here the riders arrive very bent, often with their elbows on the ground. Also, at the end of each session, they greet the public and do wheelies.
Misano (Turn 16)
Misano is the last curve that leads into the arrival straight, the bikes come out quickly from the curve, the front wheel is always off the ground.
Braking at La Quercia (Turn 8)
The riders arrive after a small straight, they are quite fast, often the bikes have the rear wheel raised.
I would like to extend my thanks to Alex for participating in this interview and for providing his striking photograph of the crowd at the Misano circuit. For anyone interested in MotoGP or sports photography, visit Alex Farinelli’s Instagram or Facebook page for more action packed shots.