PERENNIAL Aussie favourite, five-time world MotoGP 500 champion, Mick Doohan, still has the power to draw a crowd.
Never mind the modern-day heroes including Italy’s Francesco Bagnaia, Spain’s Joan Mir, and Ducati star Marc Marquez who were also in attendance or even local hope Jack Miller who wowed the kids from the San Remo Primary School.
The man they all wanted to see at the staging point for the annual ‘Home Coming Ride’ to the world famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on Thursday, October 17, at San Remo, was “the Thunder From Down Under” himself, Mick Doohan.
Who could ever forget how he secured his fifth and final title with victory at Phillip Island in 1998?
But, it will be his first, emotional 500 world championship win in 1994 that he’ll be remembering when he sets off for a 30th anniversary lap at the Phillip Island track on Sunday, between 1:15pm and 1:30pm, an amazing feat given the events of the previous year.
He appeared to be on his way to winning his first world championship in 1992 when he was seriously injured in a practice crash before the 1992 Dutch TT. He suffered permanent and serious damage to his right leg even stared down possible amputation before battling back to race in the final two races of the year but could not hold off Yamaha rider Wayne Rainey who won the title that year by four lousy points.
Due to his injuries, it was all he could do to hold on to his place at Honda in 1993, at that time switching to a left thumb-operated rear brake, as his right foot was no longer able to perform this function.
But he came back with vengeance in 1994 and history writes that he so dominated the sport in the following years that he won five world titles in-a-row.
Speaking ahead of the Home Coming Ride, under the picturesque San Remo Bridge on Thursday, Doohan said the victories in 1994 and backing up in 1995 were just as sweet as each other.
“The first one was a relief, to be honest, after the issues I had in finally getting there but winning back-to-back in 1995 was just as sweet,” Doohan told a silent crowd.
“But, you know, 30 years feels like a lifetime ago. I’m always looking forward other than the lessons learned along the way. I haven’t given it much thought (the 30th anniversary) but I guess I will on Sunday.”
So, while the world will be watching at 2pm on Sunday for the start of Phillip Island’s Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2024 for many the highlight will be between 1:15pm and 1:30pm when Mick Doohan takes off on his 30th anniversary lap of the track in the lead up to the big race.
