By Sandra McKay
First published in The Age on October 6, 1997
Premier hails state’s GP win
World champion Mick Doohan was unable to bring home the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, much to the disappointment of 50,000 fans yesterday, but the Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, claimed the race as an international victory for Victoria.
Winner Alex Criville crosses the line at the 1997 Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island.
Credit:Joe Armao
The event’s return after a six-year absence would bolster the state’s odds of hosting the Commonwealth Games and it would attract more tourism development to Phillip Island, he said.
“This will hopefully attract a couple of very major hotels to invest here, and that will give Phillip Island a kick for years to come,” Mr Kennett said.
Although taxpayers would foot a $3 million-plus bill after the Grand Prix Corporation failed to secure a naming rights sponsor, Mr Kennett said the international exposure was worth it.
“We are positioning Melbourne in a way which we just could not otherwise afford, so I think it’s good value.”
Mr Kennett was confident the event would attract a major sponsor next year.
Jeff Kennett, Ron Walker and Judith Griggs at the 1997 Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island.Credit:Belinda Pratten
The final day crowd did not match the prediction of the corporation’s chairman, Mr Ron Walker, of 100,000-plus, but he said it still made Victoria one of only three motorcycle GPs in the world this year to draw a total crowd of 100,000 over the three days.
After Doohan dominated the qualifying sessions to take his 50th pole position and enjoyed a huge six-second margin on teammate Alex Criville, he slid out of the race on lap 17 to the shock of the partisan crowd.
The 32-year-old Queenslander, who has 46 victories in 500cc Grand Prix but is yet to win at Phillip Island, said his front end “froze” on turn one, with 11 laps to go.
“It wasn’t to be and it just shows that racing’s unpredictable,” Doohan said, after copping pre-race flak that his record string of victories this season had made the sport boring.
Mick Doohan in action.Credit:Joe Armao
Mr Kennett, who was given a hero’s welcome by the crowd for winning back the event from Sydney, said there were huge expectations of Doohan.
“Maybe in one sense there was too much pressure. The crowd came to see him win and sadly he didn’t but that doesn’t detract at all from his year and his contribution to Australia’s reputation overseas.”
The day was not without its dramas for other Australian riders, with Daryl Beattie failing to make the starting grid, in what may have been his final 500cc ride. A virulent bout of influenza left him on a drip at the Cowes hospital.
Doohan’s crash-out helped ease the traditional post-race traffic jam.
“After Doohan fell quite a few people left so the traffic was more spread out,” a police spokesman said.
Traffic planning also paid off, with most of the crowd leaving before 6pm.
Police praised the crowd’s behaviour. There were eight arrests for drunkenness outside the Cowes Isle of Wight hotel at the weekend, where more than 12,000 fans congregated.
Mr Kennett said police praised the honesty of the crowd. “The police have told me they have never noticed so many wallets handed in still containing all the money.”
