2023 was a special year for me, motorsports-wise. Besides my travels to F1 Races ( Spain & Belgium ), I had the opportunity to attend the Centenary Edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. However, What was more amazing was seeing racing return to my homeland in September 2023.

India ( now Bharat ) hosted its first-ever MotoGP race at the Buddh International Circuit from 22nd to 24th September. The purpose-built racetrack returned to hosting an international motorsports event for the first time since 2013. MotoGP, the pinnacle of racing on two wheels, was my first exposure to motorsport in the late 1990s. Back then, the exploits of Mick Doohan made me a Repsol Honda fan and ever since I have been following their performances avidly.

Attending a MotoGP event was always on my wishlist and when the opportunity to attend the inaugural edition of the Bharat GP presented itself, I simply couldn't refuse. The icing on the cake was that I got invited to the weekend as a guest of Repsol Honda!



As always, the first post from the experience documents all the known motorsport fraternity from the world of MotoGP. 

So here goes!

Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati Racing :

Joan Mir, Repsol Honda Team :

Augusto Fernandez, Gas Gas Factory Racing Tech3 :

Miguel Oliveira, Cryptodata RNF MotoGP :

Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Factory Racing Sports Director :

Jorge Martin, Prima Pramac Racing :

Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda :

Mr Julia Marquez, the Father of the Marquez brothers :

Marc Marquez!! Massive Fan moment for a Repsol Honda loyalist :

Fabio Di Giannantonio, Gresini Ducati Racing :

Sam Lowes, Marc VDS Racing, Moto2 :

Somkiat Chantra, Honda Team Asia, Moto2 :

Lin Jarvis, Team Principal for Monster Energy Yamaha :

Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha Team & 2021 World Champion :

Marc Marquez' Crew Chief, Santi Hernandez :

Takaaki Nakagami, LCR Honda :

Six-time World Champion & Aprilia ambassador, Max Biaggi :

Pol Espargaro, Gas Gas Factory Racing Tech3 :

Luca Marini, Mooney VR46 Racing Team :

Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Racing Team Manager :

Aron Canet, Pons Racing, Moto2 :

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team :

Deniz Oncu, Red Bull KTM Ajo, Moto3 :

Daniel Holgado, Red Bull KTM Tech3, Moto3 :

Celestino Vietti, Fantic Racing, Moto2 :

Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM MotoGP :

Tony Arbolino, Marc VDS Racing, Moto2 :

Marco Bezzecchi, Mooney VR46 Racing Team :

Ducati General Manager, Luigi Dall'lgna :

Albert Arenas, Red Bull KTM Ajo, Moto2 :

MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo Team :

Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing Team :

Lucio Cecchinello, Founder of LCR Honda Team :

Darryn Binder, Husqvarna Intact GP, Moto2 :

Raul Fernandez, RNF Aprilia MotoGP :

Razlan Razali, Team Principal, RNF Aprilia MotoGP :

Jaume Masia, Leopard Racing, Moto3 :

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing, MotoGP :

Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing, MotoGP :

Mr Paolo Simoncelli, Team Owner, Sic58 Squadra Corsa :

Jake Dixon, Gas Gas Aspar Team, Moto2 :

Ana Carrasco, Boe Motorsports, Moto3 :

David Munoz, Boe Motorpsorts, Moto3 :

David Alonso, Gas Gas Aspar Team, Moto3 :

Franco Morbidelli, Monster Energy Yamaha, MotoGP :

Simon Crafar, former racer & Ace Commentator :

Jose Luis Martinez, Assistant & Best Friend to Marc Marquez :

Pablo Nieto, Team Manager, Mooney VR46 Team, MotoGP :

Joe Roberts, Italtrans Racing Team, Moto2 :

Dennis Foggia, Italtrans Racing Team, Moto2 :

Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsports Wheel Manager, It is Such a pleasure to meet him :

It was truly a special experience and a blessing to be at the inaugural edition of MotoGP of Bharat. A big thank you to Repsol Honda Racing for being kind enough to extend invites to my friend and me for the weekend. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday experiences will follow soon, so watch this space!