OFF THE BUCKET LIST

What is it like to watch the greatest show on two wheels at what is, arguably, the greatest MotoGP racetrack?

-  SHIVANK BHATT

Them: How far can you go to watch a MotoGP race?

Me:Yes

Nope, you haven’t landed on a meme page. It’s just that I can’t find a more apt explanation to justify my visit to the Phillip Island Circuit, where I got to witness this year’s Australian Grand Prix from close quarters. A childhood dream realised, you bet!

Two decades ago, if you had told me – a 13-year-old schoolkid – that I would get to watch a MotoGP race live one day, I would have probably looked at you as someone who’s totally off their rocker. Honestly, the most I could wish for back then was perhaps a bigger flat-screen television set to watch the races. That was it.

Now, having been to a couple of MotoGP races already – including the recently concluded Indian Grand Prix – I do find all of this quite surreal. So, you can only imagine how thrilling it would have been for me to receive the ‘Access Granted’ email from MotoGP’s accreditation centre for this year’s Phillip Island round!

GO DOWN UNDER