Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner and Randy Mamola will take to the track in a series of demonstration laps at the picturesque Phillip Island circuit from 3 - 5 October.
Doohan and Gardner will be aboard Honda’s CBR10000RR Fireblade, while Mamola will line up on a Ducati.
They will then ride demonstration laps of the 4.4km circuit in front of an expected bumper crowd on Saturday, 4 October and Sunday, 5 October.
Drew Ward, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, says the appearance of the legends at the country’s premier two-wheeled event will be a spectacle not to be missed.
“It’s a privilege to be able to recognise these three amazing riders for the countless thrilling on-track battles they entertained us with throughout the 80s and 90s,” said Mr Ward.
“Wayne and Mick paved the way for the current crop of Australian MotoGP riders, while Randy was always a crowd favourite”. Between them, our Aussie ‘Legends of MotoGP’ have six 500cc world championships. Gardner took the title in 1987, while Doohan won five back-to-back from 1994 – 1998. Mamola was runner up on four occasions – 1980, 1981, 1984 and 1987.
This year marks a series of milestones for these heroes of motorcycling:
- It is the 21st anniversary of Gardner's 1987 world championship win. The man they dubbed the “Wollongong Whiz” was the first Aussie world champion and is credited with helping to bring a round of the world’s premier motorcycling race down under.
- It is the 10th anniversary since Doohan took the fifth of his five consecutive world titles in 1998. In doing so, he became the most successful Australian rider of all time.
“I encourage anyone with a passion for sport to join us at Phillip Island in October as we relive a bit of history and salute these legends of the sport with this very special demonstration ride,” said Mr Ward. “Not only will it be an extraordinary spectacle for race-goers, but it will also present a unique opportunity for Mick, Wayne and Randy to acknowledge the tremendous support they received throughout their careers from their loyal Australian fans.”
All three legends are fired up at the chance to take to the Phillip Island track once more.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since I won my last World Championship,” said Doohan. “Phillip Island was always such an amazing place to race and to have the opportunity to get on a bike again in front of the tremendously passionate Aussie crowd down there is an experience I’m very much looking forward to.”
“The Phillip Island circuit holds such great memories for me and winning the first two Australian Grands Prix was very special,” added Gardner. “With Stoner having found the pace that eluded him in some of the earlier races, it’s shaping up to be an awesome battle for the championship and the atmosphere at Phillip Island is bound to be electric.”
“Australia holds such fond memories for me and I can’t wait to get down there in October and hopefully give the fans back a little something after all the support I received from them,” said Mamola.
The trio will also make a series of off-track appearances over the Grand Prix weekend, greeting fans at the autograph stage and visiting selected VIP hospitality suites.
NOTE: 1993 500cc world champion, Kevin Schwantz, was originally scheduled to take part in the ‘Legends’ demonstration but had to withdraw due to conflicting commitments in the United States with the Red Bull Rookies Cup.
RIDER NOTES
Wayne Gardner
Wayne Gardner took out the 500cc world championship crown in 1987 and was awarded an Order of Australia and named the Sport Australia Sportsman in that same year. In 1986 and 1988 Wayne was runner-up to Eddie Lawson. A highlight of Wayne’s career was his sensational win at the inaugural Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island in 1989. Against almost impossible odds, Wayne repeated this victory in 1990, riding with a broken wrist bone as well as a broken fairing which had worked loose. Wayne currently owns and manages Wayne Gardner Enterprises, a highly successful motorcycle accessory import/distribution business.
Mick Doohan
Mick Doohan won five 500cc world championships from 1994 – 1998 and notched up 54 race wins in the premier class, together with 97 podiums, during his 137 GP career. In 1997, his most successful year, Doohan won 12 out of 15 races. He was awarded an Order of Australia in 1996 and is presently a director of aviation business, Global Jet International, among other business interests.
Randy Mamola
Randy Mamola is widely regarded as the best rider to have never won a world championship. A factory rider for Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Cagiva, he competed in a total of 151 Grands Prix and notched up 13 wins along the way. He finished second in the world championship four times - in 1980, 1981, 1984 and 1987. Mamola was also well-known for being a real crowd pleaser and was renowned for his flamboyant, charismatic style. Randy pilots the two-seater MotoGP bike at various championship events around the world and is a presenter for the Eurosport television network.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
