From Two Wheels to Four: Mick Doohan on MotoGP, Aussie Talent and Jack Doohan

0:00Welcome to the pit talk podcast brought to you by Shannon's insurance for your dose of all things F1 and Modo GP Okay, Mick doing welcome to Fox Sports. Thank you so much for joining me. You're absolutely pleasure Now we're catching up with you ahead of the event that you're doing with Jacob Rauston and Sydney this weekend And I love the title the master and the apprentice. It's so fitting But I wanted to talk to you about what excites you about helping support the next generation of Australian riders coming through Well, it's it's easy really we need to have Continued flow of riders coming through Australia to can one to keep the race here and two to just Just keep people on the track and you know Jacob's He's a talented young guy We've known each other now for a little while and in these early years in in Europe sort of helped him out a little bit now So just If I can support him to get get back there a little bit quicker quicker than

1:04Then he's planned to then it's all a bit of for him. So But also inspires the next group of young guys coming in behind him. So If I can help it's easy When you look at Jacob's career Does it remind you of your own when you were that age starting and chasing that dream? It's completely different now than what it was many many years ago It is much more well. I don't know whether it's more difficult but the opportunities are more Difficult the One it's a lot more expensive the manufacturers don't pick you up at such an early ages as they did back in In the 80s when I was was that sort of his age running around doing these type of things I was racing in Japan and then the Japanese Manufacturers would pick you up take you to Europe and And next minutes. I was expedited really quickly through and and as there were a few other Aussies and and then then the whole Platform change then it's really moving you the whole family moving to Europe and pretty much Casey Stoner was

2:08Really the the first of that next generation to make it through that step Really he went and the whole family packed up and went to the UK and Barry Sheen I'd asked Barry Sheen who's the next guy because I was helping out with the sport of that time and advisor for Dora and And they were looking for the next Next great hope I guess coming through because there'd been you know Wayne Garber Kevin McGee Darryl beating myself And so on and so forth and some super by guys, but Needed the next younger guy to actually do exactly what we're just talking about to keep to keep it going to keep you Australian riders right there But Casey was there that went and then and then he was into Spain and then he was into the junior championship like I have a Jacob's doing so It And he made it through so it is possible, but it's a lot more work. There's a lot more stepping stones to get through and

3:09And the budget's massive so You know as in all motor sport today, but it's almost like a business every all wants you to go through these different steps To take their piece of the pie, but So it's quite often it's got more to do with the funding available and just pure talent You know, it's very rare in this day and age in in either sport whether it be four four wheels or two wheels We've you just get there directly on talent and it still is possible, but it's very rare You mentioned there, you know, Barry Sheen and my brother Christopher Mule and Barry helped me so I understand the connection and we see that now with a lot of the Aussie guys who are Coming to help support and it's something that we love because I feel like as Aussies We kind of rally around each other. We want to help each other succeed But you mentioned they're casing having having to move and relocate It's not always an option for Australian's right, but it Did you think it's tougher now in this day and age to have to For an Aussie to have to pack up and move just to be able to be seen like talent isn't enough like you said

4:15I think there's no other option and unfortunately for For a lot of people there's plenty of talented people around um young riders You know even young female riders who can go and do a few few options in in europe these days, but But it's just typical you've got to pack up. It's a big commitment. It's a big commitment for the family And um, you know forget about the air fairs accommodation and everything else. It's actually the The competition side of it, you know the tyres you've got a full team you've got to you've got to support you've got Crash damage you've got so you're talking you're talking anywhere from You know in Australian dollars you're pretty much your starting point is around four hundred thousand dollars And through to multi-millions if you're talking if you want to get through to gp So mono gp, I should say and it's just ridiculous, you know back in the days Gone by it was all supported by the the factories and so on and so forth, but now as I say there's such a business

5:18And there's the Europeans are you know the Spanish especially in the Italians just uh Uh, you know outweigh the Aussies by probably 50 to one who are there and um, and they generally come with a with a backpack full of money It's crazy isn't it the whole miter gp in all the Spanish and the Italians, but I think we're lucky that we have got Jack Miller flying the flag for us still in miter gp, so And I think that's exactly right. That's why we need somebody like Jacob Rolston to come through Because Jack's not a young man in in this year. He's a young man But he's not a young man in in moto gp terms any longer and but it's good to have an Aussie there And we need another Aussie to come through and uh, you know Jacob's doing a little bit on super bikes here in Australia and going well The young the young guy is very very talented. He just needs The support and um and and and he's just a little bit of a break to uh to get through It's it's really you know time in his everything

6:20So if he can be even be there and something happens and you step in for somebody you get a result That's you know quite often the way as well here once you once you're the chosen one it It makes it a lot easier I thinking back to last year some of Jacob's results and when he was so close to getting you know that top five finish with that podium finish in the heart break when it was a Engine failure or something totally out of his control I think Australia as a whole we've been rooting for him this whole time But let's just touch on our Aussies in moto gp just quickly because we just mentioned jack there and I don't know if you know this It's his 200th grumpy start this weekend in Brazil ahead of the Brazilian grumpy and you mentioned there You know, he's not a young duck anymore. He's 31 of veteran in the Moto gp class, which is crazy In your opinion to hear from you. What do you think has allowed jack to say at this top level for so long? Look, I think he clearly and this is just my that's why so I think

7:24In one easy, you know, he's a good lad People like him color being around, but that doesn't sort of that doesn't turn into a longevity He clearly understands what goes on developing a bike, you know, whether it was with to caddy to caddy then sort of You know, unfortunately wasn't him performing on it, but they certainly seem to find their way Yamaha now having Developing really what is a new format for them as well with the b4 engine So you know, unfortunately, I believe that you know, he's super talented and he certainly got the ability to run closer at the front It's more difficult with the Yamaha he's got this year, but But you know, he shows signs of brilliance and he's quick on a lap Um, he understands what goes on with the bike. He can give good feedback from what I understand. So that's what's kept him around And then we've got Senna AGS in Moto 2 and Joel Kelso in Moto 3 so we're lucky

8:28We're fortunate. We've got an Aussie in all the categories of Moto 2 Are you seeing the similar progression with Senna and Joel? We know Senna's had that race When now Joel last year was pretty high up in in the championship fight I think we've got a strong Aussie's making their way up through to Moto GP Yeah, well Senna said he seems to be going he's just going for a strength the strength. There's also he's fully young that So um, you know, it'll be great to see him You know picked up or on somebody short list for Moto GP. I think you probably go better on something like that um You know, unfortunately Joel he's a he's a great young guy. I've known him since he's been about 12 years old through He was a friend with Brock Freany. I'm sorry Brock Freany the the the V8 supercar driver these days um Yeah, when he was riding dirt bikes. He's always been quick. He's just um You know, I'm not sure whether a Moto GP would be the right fit for him just because he's uh He's not that tall in stature

9:29So, you know, and it's not to say that he couldn't ride at the but we've seen guys in the past would have a little bit limited and height and And there's a there's a happy medium there too short to tall's not good and he might just be in the too short basket for that Where Senna seems good, but but likewise he's fast. He's always in there Um, he hasn't had the best bikes being Joel um in the past few years, but um, you know last year he seemed to have a good bike So look, you know, would it be interesting to see him go if you can step up to Moto 2 and then see what happens from there But but uh likewise, I'd like to see him sort of start to get a few more wins on um on the Moto 3 He certainly capable of it, but it's just such a uh close feel in that in that uh in that series Oh, some of the best racing is something that we always try and promote because you're on the edge of the seat the whole time with these Moto 3 kids But I wanted to ask you your opinion on the rule regulation the changes that's happening in Moto gp because we know

10:32You're known as the real racer With going back to the eight fifties the reduced error etc etc Do you think we're going to see a big change next year and some of that real racing again? I would hope so, you know, the real racing is still there. I know it's it's different, but It's still the same but qualifies a lot closer and whatever else, but that was happening that has been happening for decades and There's still one or two guys would dominate regardless of what What electronics or whatever else is on there I'm not sure that uh, I don't believe the the wing the arrows much different than what it currently is the engine sizes a bit smaller So does that make it any better? it um Off the turns. I'm not sure or you know reduce electronics. I'm not sure what's You know, I think you can pick up. I don't know much about really the full regulation breakdown. So um But generally the things are remain the same. It'll be nice If the if the changes are large enough to be able to bring the the Japanese manufacturers back in

11:38I think they lost their way during the pandemic um just and loss their way maybe is a big To broader the statement, but they they stopped development. Whereas I believe that the the European manufacturers kept going So hopefully this all then reduce the plant or even up the plane field and and uh and uh, we have more more candidates buying for wins Now we can't not talk about your jack your son jack who is the Test and reserve driver for the has f1 team this season Now I I'm you're a racer your son's a race. I've been around races I'm sure he is itching to get back out on that sighting grid But is is this his way to get back into that full-time seat next year? Look anything's possible. That's the plan for him is he's working towards getting back a full-time seat in 2027 um You know some testing this year as you say They're limited and and perhaps you know long 24 hour on this type of thing just to keep to keep competing

12:41um But it's uh, it's again, it's not an easy position to be in um And there's a lot of politics more so in Formula One than there is in Then there is in Moto GP and especially um in the junior categories, but you know Formula One Moto GP It's it's you know one it's difficult to get there and then two Um in Formula One especially there's a whole bunch of other factors would come into it versus just pure talent So he's hoping that has a providing a great platform for him Um, he's enjoying working with them. So that's a start and uh and hopefully vice versa And then you can get back in a seat and uh and he can go and enjoy racing again Well, we'd love to see him back on the grid as well Australia supports Jack just as much as we sport our other jacket Moto GP So we love it, but Mick before we let you go the event this weekend That's why we're here the event the master and the apprentice with yourself and Jacob Ralston and Sydney

13:42For anyone who's thinking about coming along. What can they expect from the night? I think just a pretty laid back Q and A um event, you know a bit of a few laughs and a few stories about Moto GP and And um and what it takes to get there some of the the adventures along the way So look it's it's you know, it's really all about Jacob and uh and what what can be um Well, how we can help him out to get himself back into Europe and back on the back on the scene out there. So um, you know I really hope that That some money can be raised and we'll continue to raise it before and after this so that he makes your way back Into a class and he can show what he's really capable of and He can get a career out of out of motorsport We love it. Oh, thank you so much for Mick for taking the time to chat with us We can't wait to talk to you again soon Or do it This episode of pit talk was brought to you by Shannon's insurance

14:43Stay up to date with all the latest F1 and Moto GP news on foxports.com.au forward slash motorsport Plus follow us on socials at fox motorsport everywhere And don't forget to watch F1 and Moto GP on the home of motorsport Channel 506 on foxports in kio