Memoirs of 2023 MotoGP Bharat – Writing History!

On the morning of September 21, 2023, as the first Moto3 bikes rolled out of the pit lane at the Buddha International Circuit, my 17-year-old, once what looked like an unattainable dream, became a reality.

A thunderous echo engulfed the misty grandeur of the Buddha International Circuit. It was the sound of the first batch of rapidly approaching Moto3 bikes about to complete the first-ever sighting laps at the inaugural IndianGP. But even before the first laps were completed, standing at the balcony overlooking the start-finish line, you could hear a glorious roar reverberate through the track, and the vibrations felt as if every pore, every brick of the track were joining in the celebration. And it felt like I was being baptised by the God of Speed himself, an experience so emotionally strong and so spiritual that tears trickled down my eyes.

My 17-year-old dream, a dream that I thought would never be anything more than just a dream, had just become a reality, and I was not just a spectator in it; I was an integral part of it.

History was being written in front of our eyes, and I was on the inside, adding a few paragraphs to it. Dare to dream had just become a fact; it wasn’t a fancy quote anymore!

Where it all began!

My love affair with MotoGP started way back in 2007, when months on months I kept reading about a certain Casey Stoner on a Ducati beating the great Valentino Rossi (everyone knows Rossi, even if they don’t know what MotoGP is) fair and square, and then went on to win the championship at Motegi. Back in those times, there used to be a small (couple of pages) motorsports coverage, but they were still enough to generate curiosity in this (then) 22-year-old. Many thanks to the Overdrive magazine’s editorial team, all those vintages back, for lighting that spark in me.

I was in the second year of my engineering college, with no access to live races, I decided to try downloading a race from a torrent, the only way that it was possible to watch a race back in the day. The internet had mentally draining speeds, so I decided to download the race and made sure I did not read about the result anywhere before it. After four days of waiting, late in the night, I saw the new world champion win his first-ever home race at Phillip Island. What a way to watch my first ever race. I was hooked for life. I have not skipped a race ever since.

The Universe did its Thing

Fast forward to 2022, when a friend shared the news (which was about to break) that MotoGP was finally coming to India in 2023. I was sceptical about the possibility of it going ahead. And I had a right to feel that, Formula 1’s insulting departure from India was a scar we all had.  The country and life have a way of making a cynic out of you, even the most hardcore of optimists. But it really was something that did not let me sleep. I had to know more, so I finally decided to look into it. I had many questions: what was happening, was it a team that knew what they were doing, or was it a façade to something that would eventually break our hearts even more?

A quick message interaction later, I had a meeting scheduled with the management of FairStreet Sports, the then promoters of the inaugural IndianGP. It was supposed to be a 45-minute meeting with the COO, but I was there for more than 5 hours. I tried to meet as many people as possible and understand what made this team of individuals come together to try and pull off what was a motorsports event on a never-before scale in the country. I fondly remember the long discussion on the gravel size and the homologation requirements was with one of the key operations personnel at FairStreet Sports.

During my meeting with the COO, there came a point where he said to me that I was the first person outside his team who seemed to have such a deep understanding of the sport, and that I genuinely looked like someone who liked the sport. Then I proceeded to tell him that my daughter was named after Ana Carasco and showed him her photo. That was the moment he realized that I lived and breathed MotoGP. Deeply impressed, he decided to continue the rest of the meeting on the circuit and not in his office, and took me for a drive around the circuit, showing me where all the changes were being made, the whys and hows of it all.

A month later, instead of just publishing the interview in the Outlook Magazine’s auto section, I decided this story needed to reach more people and required a bigger platform than just a 2-page coverage. I had also noticed and fairly discussed the same with the team as well, that they had some glaring failures in terms of information sharing and flow, and it was hurting the IndianGP potential, massively. After a couple of calls and some push later, I managed to get MotoGP Bharat a significant space in the Independence Day special edition of 2023, a perfect position just a few days before the inaugural race. It was a grand success.

A few days later, I received a call from the COO asking if I could help them sort the all-important international media management, something that they were struggling with, and join them officially.

It was an easy decision. I had spent years reading, interacting, and understanding the biggest names in the MotoGP journalism world, and add to it all this years of deeply following the sport, I had an intricate understanding of what works and what doesn’t, for I had spent years’ worth of hours being chronically online, consuming every form of MotoGP news and knowledge I could. I belonged here! Like, I was born for this.

Jumping Head First

I knew that this challenge would not be easy, and boy was I surprised by the scale of it! There were now fewer than 38 days to the first practice session, and instead of incredible excitement around the race, the situation was grim. Voices were emanating from all across that this race would not go through; the international media was up in arms over the lack of any legitimate information coming through from our end. The MotoGP fans from the country weren’t flowing with confidence around our race either.

The international media were consistently discussing and debating how the BIC would not be ready by the time we reached the race weekend. There were deep concerns around the safety of the riders on the track, as some modifications to the track were required. The situation became much worse when even the riders started to speak about these concerns openly, which was when the mess exploded into a full-blown PR disaster (of course, it was just one of many during the time 😉 ).

All this bad press also hurt us bad on the business side too, I would not be exaggerating, but we lost at least 25000 tickets in sales. Add to it the marketing revenue and the hospitality and support industry losses in the region because of it, and it was no joke indeed. What also hurt the financial side was a (really) major title sponsorship-related brand pulled out in the last minutes, adding to the losses in $ millions.

The lack of information flow was surely one of the major reasons behind it, without a doubt, but it genuinely felt many times that we were just being hit more than needed because we were in India. This is why the team had only one goal: to make the race happen, no matter the losses. It was about a nation’s pride, and we were not going to let our country down.

Imagine being in a room where the legend that is Loris Capirossi giving a thumbs up to the track layout, the surface and, the overall modifications that were being carried out while being unable to tell the world that everything wasn’t just okay, it was going to be freaking brilliant. But we decided to let the official Dorna channels take the lead on that front, especially around the track safety, as it felt like the best thing to do at the time.

During the same time, I had personally begun connecting with some of the most trustworthy and respected MotoGP journalists across the world and opened a channel in case they sought any clarification around any rumours or old information that they might have. The work on the track was going on at an extremely rapid rate, but the information that was either being ‘outrightly made up’, ‘leaking’, or ‘spied’ upon was running at least 100+ hours behind the actual work on the ground.

Some of the media people replied in kind, and some didn’t as much, and that was understandable; however, by the end of the event, I am glad almost all of them had become great connections, and some, I can also call friends.

On one front, I was trying to dispel any wrong information with the independent international media, while on the other, I had taken it on myself to make sure I reach as many MotoGP fans and followers in the country as possible and remove every doubt they might have about MotoGP Bharat. I was there to answer all their questions, take in every criticism, defend when it was worth defending, while at the same time making them aware that it was not about us and them, it was about a nation’s collective pride, and the team would not let them down.

All my social handles were completely engaged in the process, and I even had people calling me, texting me on my personal phone to get clarification, hurling abuses, sharing a word of motivation, everything. It was surreal. I had never imagined the love for MotoGP in India went THAT deep, and I could never have been happier.

Bad Day at the Office

With things finally looking in our favour (at least) online, and the race weekend was just around the corner; we thought we were back in the driving seat. Around the same time, the MotoGP cargo had also started arriving at the circuit, assisted incredibly well by the Uttar Pradesh Government and especially the Police Department.

The next important thing was the arrival of the riders and the teams. With special welcoming party celebrations already set, one of our teams was sent to the airport to receive and greet the incoming paddock.

It was then that the bombshell dropped, and we had the most demoralizing and heartbreaking day at the office unfolding in front of us. We received the news from Dorna that almost the entirety of the paddock was hit by an unexpected Visa issue, and the race was suddenly in jeopardy. Ever since we had tendered for the Visa company based on Dorna’s requirements and given them a couple of finalists (L1 and L2) companies, we had left it to Dorna and the company they chose. Now the contracted company wasn’t replying, and the majority of the paddock was on the verge of missing their flights due to their Visas not getting approved!

It was a situation that froze everyone for a few minutes, and no one knew how to react. It wasn’t just a Grade 5 categorical disaster, but had the potential of insurmountable reputational damage to the country. In all this, the leader that he had been throughout, Pushkar Nath Shrivastava, the COO, sat silently, pondering over the next steps as one highly placed Dorna personnel slammed shut his laptop and said it’s over, time to pack our bags.

Pushkar stood and said, “No, you aren’t. No one is going anywhere; we have a race to organize, and none of us is going anywhere without making the race a success! We are Indians, and there is no problem big enough for us to solve and win.” And then he got to work. Within a couple of hours, the moment they were informed, the entire Uttar Pradesh government apparatus was on board in helping us sort the rapidly deteriorating situation. We were promised every legally possible help, and with MEA departments also getting involved, there was a newfound belief that we would pull through this.

Buoyed by the incredible speed with which the state and the central government came to the rescue, we pulled a vast majority of resources from all divisions of FairStreet Sports and built a rapid action Visa refilling system to make sure every single pending Visa is cleared. Over the next 36 hours, a team of more than 40 people filled thousands of Visas again, maxing each and every one of our Corporate Credit Cards while many personal cards were also used to just get the filings done fast and right.

No one from that team slept for 40 hours, and while we were all deeply exhausted and working tirelessly towards making the race happen, the internet was not being kind by any stretch of imagination. The visa issue reports were coming thick and fast, and the news was spreading like a wildfire. The #VisaGate, as it was named by someone in the international media, was already trending. People were abusing us, they called us scamsters, they said we were an incompetent bunch, they said we brought shame to our country, and anti-India rhetoric was boiling over. Everywhere, people were saying that India can’t hold a race event of this stature, that it was not capable, and many more hurtful things that could be said were being said.

However, what hurt me the most, personally, was how a certain section of ‘elitist’ Indian motorsport people who may or may not have been related to the Formula 1 IndianGP were also demeaning us and tweeting about how unprepared we were, and we should not have even tried to bring MotoGP to India. They should have known better and kept their fingers away from keyboards. Mind you, the whole Visa issue was not a FairStreet Sport issue; we had no part in that. I, as an individual, am not forgetting that for some time to come.

By this time, I was already established as ‘that guy from MotoGP Bharat,’ which meant almost every #VisaGate social post had me tagged on it, and all the flattering language was happily being showered on me. Through all that, I kept promising and explaining to everyone to have faith in us and to calm down, and the fact that the race would indeed go ahead as planned. I knew the efforts that were being made behind the scenes, and I was standing firm for my team and their capabilities.

As the National Press Officer, I was also consistently in touch with numerous MotoGP journalists and photographers from all over the world. Pushkar had given me a separate 4-member team to help me sort every visa-related issue that was coming directly to me. That day, around 110 visa requests went through me, and we were able to get 109 their visas. 1, which we couldn’t hurt bad, but I was also told that it was finally processed a day later through intervention ‘by higher powers’.

By Thursday morning, every visa was processed, and everyone either was already at the circuit or was on the final legs of their journey to India. In those 50 hours, we had won a massive battle that we did not even start, but were blamed for, and we came out of it smiling with pride. It also proved just how incredibly well our government and the private sector can function if it sets its sights on making something right. All those who were in that room during the time that crisis unfolded are the only ones who knew just how bleak things were.

Pushkar’s leadership pulled off a miracle, and he probably will never get the credit for it. So I am giving myself the liberty to give the credit where it is due. I shared this because his legacy must include this part as well.

The Turning of the Tide!

As more and more people started reaching the paddock, I could see the change in the atmosphere. The negative stories and overall uncertainty about the track had started giving way to positivity, and for the first time since the declaration of MotoGP coming to India, it seemed motivation and optimism were beating cynicism.

I had rigorously spent the past few days protecting the reputation of MotoGP Bharat and projecting the faith I held in the event. As more and more people started believing the line ‘It is our collective pride,’ I kept pushing forward. I could see those who were against us shifting towards defending and supporting us. It remains one of my biggest personal victories, something that I will forever be proud of.

In a matter of hours, social media was full of stories about how awestruck the whole paddock was from the sheer scale of the BIC. All the concerns about the track not being ready were no longer a part of the discussion; in place, everyone loved the layout and could not stop themselves from praising it with big, huge smiles.

The same story was with the international media; every MotoGP journalist present at the circuit simply loved the massive scale, the track layout, and the way every required modification was carried out to make the race happen. I also finally got to meet the legend that is Mat Oxley, and he could not have been a cooler person. Absolutely amazing to talk to, he loves India, and he was among the few people who always gave us the benefit of the doubt and how the paddock was responding to the track and the vibe; he was vindicated.

I also got to spend a decent amount of time with Simon Patterson. He is someone who has always found himself at the crossroads where hate and misunderstanding come flying towards him from all corners. Maybe this is proof that in the end, he is a good journalist and, above everything else, he truly does love the sport and cares about its good health. There is no doubt he was among the most critical voices about the IndianGP throughout 2023 up to the moment he stepped inside the circuit. But here is the fact, he was doing absolutely nothing wrong in criticising and having a strong scepticism about our race. It was in fact, his journalistic duty

For the large part, like I have already said in the beginning of this memoir, MotoGP Bharat suffered monumentally with our lack of news flow from the onset and journalists like Simon had all the rights to ask questions about the safety, about the #VisaGate and everything in between since it is the basic premise of their profession. What I absolutely love about Simon was the fact that once he understood that we were indeed on the right path, he took it on himself to share the good part of our work, too. That said, getting Simon on camera to talk well about us was another win for me during the whole event. It was, in many ways, a testament of us being able to turn the tide after fighting so many battles on so many different fronts in a short span.

Moments I will cherish!

It is going to be extremely difficult to shortlist the moments that I will probably remember all my life from the 2023 Indian MotoGP. No doubt, a few moments certainly stood out among the sea of moments that could fill a thousand pages.

That said, getting to meet Ana Carrasco, especially with my (then 2-year-old) daughter Ana, who has been named after Ana Carrasco, will be one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. I have always been a massive fan of Ana. I used to follow her throughout her first Moto3 stint, and celebrated when she went on to become the first-ever female solo rider to win an FIM Motorcycle racing championship in 2018 while competing in Supersport 300. She returned to Moto3 for another stint after her championship win. I knew the 2023 IndianGP was probably the only chance I would get to see her race in this paddock and meet her in person. The picture I have of her looking at my daughter as I introduced both of them to each other is a moment etched into my memory forever.

Another great moment of the 2023 IndianGP for me was all thanks to Marc Marquez, who, for very obvious reasons, is my wife’s favourite MotoGP rider. The only thing she actually cares about in terms of MotoGP is if Marc won or not. So when this MotoGP opportunity came and clearly asked me to risk my whole career and almost a decades hard work in the automobile journalism industry as a freelance and consultant, all she said was, you better make me meet Marc and have a photo with him or else I am kicking you out of the house. I, from the deepest parts of my heart, thank Marc Marquez for saving my marriage for the photo you see below 😀

Another fabulous moment that comes to mind was the pre-race event on Thursday when the few MotoGP riders played a bit of cricket, which they were all pretty terrible at. Just after Fabio Quartararo had tried his hand at batting and hitting a ball while swinging the bat like a sword, it still surprises me how he didn’t smash a camera or someone’s head that day. Epic fun. This was the reason I grabbed the opportunity, and when Pecco Bagnaia went for his attempt, I humbly asked him if I could show him how to hold the bat. He agreed, and I tried explaining to him how to keep the bat straight, and he did rather well. All of these MotoGP guys are absolute top lads.

And then there was this line Pushkar said to me on the track as the team was celebrating the success of the race, ‘Sunny, the only thing I am sad about right now is that we found you so late. Thank you for whatever you did for us’ It was in those couple of sentences, it felt as if the years of passion and love I had invested in the sport and the undeterred determination I had to make as much effort as possible to make this event a grand success, everything, had proved worthwhile. Still brings a tear to my eyes whenever I think about it.

Finally, it was the love, the motivation and the support the whole Indian MotoGP follower base showered at us through the event. I received hundreds of messages congratulating and thanking the team all through the race weekend and I, offer my deepest gratitude, a big thank you to everyone who reached out and made me realize that we, after all, did win!

What the Future Holds?

It hurts me how we could not tell the world (yet) about the great stories that built the foundation of the inaugural IndianGP, leading to its widely appreciated and successful culmination. And then it hurts even more to be fully aware of how much was lost due to the subsequent cancellation of the 2024 and 2025 IndianGP. The stories behind these cancellations, the hows, the whys are equally fascinating, but those are not my stories to tell.

I also understand the question that lingers in your mind, and I get asked every day, the same question, over and over again: “Will there ever be another IndianGP ever again? Will MotoGP return?”. I usually say, ‘Please keep your fingers crossed’, as I am doing the same. Let’s just say, it might not be a case of ‘If?’ or even ‘When?’, it might just be a matter of a bit of faith and confidence.

Here’s to crossed fingers and telling the universe we haven’t lost faith and, we continue thinking about that one thing, every day, for every moment. And we are ready! I am ready!

Cheers. Ride Safe.