Racing bloodlines: Mick Doohan’s legacy and his son’s Formula One ambitions
Ahead of his new documentary, we meet with MotoGP legend Mick Doohan and his son Jack, who is chasing his own motorsport glory.
You couldn’t write a better script of sporting resilience, courage and unwavering human spirit than the story of MotoGP legend Mick Sydney Doohan.
Few athletes have so comprehensively dominated an international sport in the way Doohan did in 500cc racing during the 1990s, clinching an incredible 54 Grand Prix victories, against death-defying odds.
The ascent of the fearless rider dubbed by the media “Dead by June Doohan” was far from smooth, starting with him surviving a near-fatal race crash on the brink of his inaugural World Championship in 1992.
In a case where life is more compelling than fiction, Doohan’s meteoric rise, heartbreaking fall and unfathomable comeback are the subject of a new documentary feature Dead By June, to be released later this year.
Karl Stefanovic is executive producer, working alongside director and producer Rob Coe, on the tell-all tale of his close mate and sporting idol.
“I don’t think Mick Doohan has ever kept to a script. And that’s the beauty of him. You know, he’s warts and all. Talent, incredibly brave, a little crazy. I think people who don’t know the story are going to find it extraordinary and the people that do know the story are going to find it extraordinary in an even deeper way,” Stefanovic says.
“How does someone come from the north side of Brisbane to conquer the world five times? How does he have an accident like that? And nearly lose his leg and get back on the bike six weeks later? How does he go on to win five World Championships?
“I mean, to me, the most fascinating part of the story are the unknowns. How they came about and how he was shaped and that fierce determination to succeed.”
Despite the awe and accolades that surround him, Doohan is far more animated and invested in talking about his son Jack’s Formula One aspirations than reliving his own glory days when WISH talks to him at his palatial pad on the Gold Coast. “To be 21, and essentially with an F1 contract, is pretty damn impressive,” Doohan says.
Fear was never a factor for Doohan when he was racing, despite several serious crashes throughout his career. But he admits to a different sensation when watching his son, now a reserve driver for the Alpine Formula One team.
“It’s frightening to watch your kids perform in any speed event. I can only imagine what my mother went through,” he says.
“But at least he’s on four wheels, which is a little bit easier to digest for me and his mother. He’s performed very well and to get himself to where he is at the moment is a credit to him and we’re proud of him. His work ethic is outstanding and it’s good that he’s driven himself to achieve the results to be where he is at.”
Doohan’s rise through the racing ranks was more fraught. He was the youngest of three boys and followed his brothers into dirt bike riding from the age of seven.
“My eldest brother had a little dirt bike and my other brother and I were pushing our parents for a while. We were fortunate enough that they bought us a bike each, so that was the start of it all,” he says.
Doohan’s dad died when he was 12, but he bats away talk of the impact his father’s death had on him at a young age.
“I’m not the only kid in Australia who has had that happen. You’ve just got to accept it and move on, and you’ve got to do your best. My mother did a great job in bringing up us three boys.”
It’s an insight into the foundations of the iron-willed determination, tenacity, and resilience that Doohan executed so brilliantly throughout his career.
From 1994 to 1998, Doohan was untouchable, claiming five consecutive World Championships. His dominance saw him win 54 races, 95 podium finishes and 58 pole positions, and set records for the most Grand Prix wins in a season (12) and the most Grand Prix points won in a season (340).
“I believe it’s the application, the commitment and the persistence which pays off,” Doohan says.
“I knew I had an opportunity to do well and so with that, I decided to focus 100 per cent. I knew that sport’s a very short window, especially at the elite level, and there’s no second comings. You need to commit 100 per cent for as long as possible to get the best results.”
It’s a mantra he’s now sharing with his son. Echoes of Doohan’s advice are evident in Jack’s views on striving for success on the F1 circuit.
“It’s no half jobs and making sure that everything is done to perfection, and done properly, done right. If we’re going to do it at all, making sure that I’m in the best possible shape mentally and physically, to make sure that I’m on my game when I am at the track. Making sure that the work is done before I get on track so once I get there, I can just enjoy doing what I love and put it all together really,” he says.
Having a famous father can be a blessing and a curse, but Doohan is confident that son Jack has what it takes to manage the pressure on and off the track.
“I think that the pressure there is not the same as if he’d been on two wheels; at least he’s in a different discipline of motorsport. And I think that helps him a lot, he’s not having to worry about what his father did. He’s creating his own pathway on four wheels,” he says.
Jack says while it may have been challenging at times having his father giving advice, he has grown to appreciate it as he moves up the racing ranks. “Dad’s not one to ever boost his own tyres or speak about himself. So to look back and see what he’s done, to be able to have his advice and his knowledge, brainpower and guidance in my corner, is great,” Jack says.
“As a kid, it was tough. You know, getting that information from your dad and trying to accept that he’s not just on my case. Growing up and understanding that it’s obviously for my own benefit and that he’s been there and done it. It’s really great that I can follow in similar footsteps, just on four wheels.”
Jack says he’s grateful for his family’s support, including his mum Selina and sister Allexis. “I’m very lucky to have that, and they’ve been together for a long time now, and to have both supporting me is great,” he says.
“Thanks to my dad and my family, I’m very grounded. I’m a Gold Coast kid, slightly bogan, and enjoy coming home and hopping in the surf or just hanging out with mates and not doing too much.”
Doohan senior’s success has continued off track, not only as a board member of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and a Mercedes-Benz ambassador, but in the fast-paced world of aviation and property development.
He’s president of Jetcraft Australia and New Zealand, owns charter flight business Global Jet International and Platinum Business Aviation, which runs private terminals at Essendon and the Gold Coast.
You’d expect Doohan to be a daredevil in all aspects of his life, but at 58 he says he’s enjoying a quieter existence. “I’ve never been a thrillseeker. It’s hard to believe with the background racing bikes, but I live a pretty quiet life, to be honest. I like getting out boating and flying. [He also houses a helicopter in his garage-turned-hangar.] But generally, I just try to take it as easy as possible. I’m not a young man any longer, so I do enjoy just being able to kick back.”
This story is from the April issue of WISH.
