I thought Formula One is nerve wrecking… Then I went for my very first MotoGP (Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, to be exact) at Sepang International Circuit two weeks ago. And man, watching those races really kept me at the edge of my seat especially when the riders overtook each other at the corners and collided into one another! I was just so amazed by their skills that now, I have a newfound respect for these riders. #mindblown

And to top it off, I got the opportunity to get up close with the world-renowned motorcycle riders – Valentino Rossi (my editor Ian was so jealous I was a few feet away from him :p), Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo – at the media centre and the press conference. And before you guys start going all “picture, or it didn’t happen” on me, here’s proof…

Lorenzo after the press conference on Day One.

Marquez during an interview with a foreign press.

I even recorded a video of Rossi heading to the pit for his race!

After I was THIS close to Rossi, I headed back to the media centre to watch the race. And I realised a guy was seated next to my stuff… Turns out, he is 18-year-old Moto3 racer Philipp Öttl from Germany!

Of course, a selfie with Öttl!

But what really got my attention was the new feeder series called the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup (ATC). It’s in its first year and yet there are so many talented and dedicated young riders aged 13-20 from Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, China, Indonesia and Malaysia, eyeing to be the first ever champion.

The Asia Talent Cup riders wait patiently for their race to begin.

I have to say all seven Malaysian riders really did us proud, particularly 18-year-old Shafiq Rasol who won first for the first time on Day One of MotoGP and then placed second on Day Two. He took on fierce competitors Kaito Toba, Yuta Date and Takuma Kunimine from Japan and broke the Japanese riders’ run of victories this year.

Malaysian rider Shafiq Rasol takes one for the team.

So naturally, congratulatory messages and well wishes from fans and media poured in. Even Marquez, who is Shafiq’s idol, approached him at the media centre to congratulate him on his win.

Shafiq’s idol, current MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez (left), took time out to congratulate Shafiq on his success.

At the press conference, current MotoGP champion Marquez told us: “It was really nice to see the riders, especially the first three riders from Japan (Toba, Date and Kinimine) and the Malaysian rider, Rasol, giving their 100 percent at their races.”

“And I think it is important for the MotoGP championship because it gives the opportunity to young riders to show their talent and what they can do to the people watching and the teams.”

In the end, Toba won the ATC championship despite not winning on Day Two. Date got second place, followed by Kunimine, Ayumu Sasaki and Shafiq.

“I’m happy being champion because I have been doing my best this year but I’m a little disappointed because I wanted to win the race AND the championship,” said 14-year-old Toba.

Toba won the inaugural ATC after finishing third in the final race of the season

Motorcycle racing may seem like an extremely competitive sport but the riders are buddies off the track. I saw them goofing around as they watched the replay of their race together back at the ATC tent.

However, that wasn’t the only “backstage” pass I got. I was also at the pit and the starting line, where I bumped into 14-year-old Sasaki, who crashed and broke his wrist during Day One’s race.

He told me he will be out for three weeks!

Get well soon, Sasaki!

Overall, my MotoGP weekend was a blast thanks to the adrenaline and excitement. I won’t consider myself a huge fan, but I look forward to MotoGP 2015! 🙂