DOOHAN OFFICIALLY WELCOMED INTO THE MOTOGP HALL OF FAME

Mick Doohan received his official MotoGP Hall of Fame medal at Phillip Island, in front of his home crowd, completing a fitting circle for the five-time world champion. Carlos Ezpeleta, deputy CEO of the MotoGP Group, presented the honour and praised both Doohan’s achievements on track and his lasting contribution to motorcycle racing.

Doohan won five consecutive 500cc world titles from 1994 to 1998, recording 54 victories and 95 podium finishes. He stood on the podium in almost 70 per cent of his starts. Ezpeleta said Doohan had earned his place among the sport’s greats long before the Hall of Fame was established. “I grew up watching Mick dominate the sport more and more,” he said, adding that Doohan’s influence extended well beyond his results. He described him as an ambassador and supporter of MotoGP and motorcycling as a whole, and as an important example for Australian riders who followed him.

The career behind those statistics was marked by serious setbacks. Doohan was on course to challenge for his first title in 1992 when a major practice crash at Assen threatened his career. After a long and difficult recovery, he returned to win his run of five championships. A further serious crash at Jerez in 1999 brought his racing career to an end.

At the ceremony, Doohan acknowledged the sport’s highs and lows rather than dwelling on what might have been. “Of course, there’s always the what ifs, buts and maybes,” he said. “But that’s what racing is about. You have to deal with the ups and downs and overcome them.” He also credited the people around him, recalling the difficult periods and the “great team” he had in the 1990s. He thanked Ezpeleta and the Dorna team for their collaboration.

Doohan accepted the recognition with gratitude and a joke: “I always wanted a medal I could go out with.” He added that he felt honoured and privileged to be inducted. Ezpeleta said the champion remained a role model for riders past and future, and that it was difficult to discuss MotoGP’s greatest figures without mentioning him.

Looking back to the beginning, Doohan said his journey started as a family pastime, riding dirt bikes. “And now we’re here, at Phillip Island for the last race here. It’s the perfect time,” he said, thanking those who had welcomed him into the Hall of Fame.