By Marcella Gallace
It’s a no brainer that if you’re a fan of someone, whether a singer, actor, or in this case, a MotoGP rider - getting their autograph would be a thrill.
I am about to drop the method on how to secure a MotoGP riders autograph at Phillip Island MotoGP. But be mindful that this guide is specific to Phillip Island only and I will explain why soon.
The MotoGP Autograph Method:
1. You need to attend Phillip Island MotoGP
2. You need to have a Paddock Pass for Friday or Saturday (sold out for 2024)
3. You need to have a Sharpie & item ready to be signed
4. You need to be patient & polite
There are few things you need to get in order first, obviously you need to be attending the MotoGP race at Phillip Island but here’s the kicker, attending on Friday or Saturday significantly boosts your chances of getting an autograph. I’d go so far as to say your chances of getting an autograph on race day are next to none.
And the reason comes down to one thing, the riders are in game mode on Sunday, they are totally focused on the race, intensity heightens, and they are entering a mediative state. Therefore, they are more likely to be rushing to and from their garage. Imagine you're up against a tight deadline at work, and someone suddenly waves something in your face, demanding your attention. Chances are, you won’t react as well as you would have if they’d approached you two days earlier, when you weren’t under so much pressure. And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us to Friday.
Friday is the best day in the paddock to gain a MotoGP riders autograph. You will need to purchase a paddock pass to enter this area but it’s totally worth it, whether you gain an autograph or not, there’s so much to see back here. Riders and teams are at their most relaxed state across the MotoGP race weekend on Friday, therefore, it’s the best day to wait around for riders to sign merchandise. Saturday isn’t too bad either, especially after qualifications, large crowds will form at certain garage gates - which will give you an indication that that rider probably hasn't popped out of their garage yet. Be mindful as the day progresses and the sprint race approaches, that the riders might be rushing between areas, so I would aim for post-qualifcations and post-sprintrace, rather than try and grab them prior to these scheduled events.
Why is Phillip Island an easy track to get an autograph at?
Phillip Island compared to other circuits on the calendar has a pathway that separates the garage from the rider’s trailer, which means riders are forced to run/walk across the same path that you as a paddock pass holder have access to. At most circuits, riders have a private entrance leading directly from their trailers into the garage, ensuring everything remains discreet.
This is why Phillip Island is one of the easiest tracks to gain an autograph at. If you wait patiently near a rider’s garage, you will see them, this is guaranteed. When it comes to gaining an autograph, crowds will start to grow, especially for riders such as Marc Marquez, Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia. But this means nothing, riders dedicate quite a bit of their time to signing as many items as they can, so you have an excellent chance of getting your special item signed on Friday.
When is the best time to get an autograph?
There is of course a best time to gain an autograph. I would say any time after Free Practice 1 and 2 on Friday is the perfect time to be waiting at a garage. The bigger riders will take a bit of time to exit their garage because they will be working with the team and analysing results, but they will exit within half an hour to an hour after finishing Free Practices. You need to be there just before the practice session finishes and be prepared to wait around until you see them. There seems to be visually less people in the paddock on a Friday (which is odd because it's always sold out), therefore, with smaller crowds - it's likely you'll get that item signed compared to the big crowds that form on the Saturday post-qualifications.
The other reason I say Friday is the best day to have a Paddock Pass is because, me personally, I am more willing to miss out on viewing Free Practices in order to spend time in the paddock area, I wouldn’t want to miss out on watching qualifications. Just be mindful of what you want to see and what you would like to get out of the MotoGP weekend and tailor waiting around for autographs around this. However, post-qualifications on a Saturday is another golden opportunity for autographs.
You’ll also find riders just popping in and out of trailers unannounced, it’s a very relaxed environment across Friday and Saturday, so you have a great chance of getting your items signed in general. I mean, I had my hat signed by Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island on a Friday the first time I had purchased a Paddock Pass and the crowds were massive. So, I have faith in you! You’ll get those autographs.
Best time to be in Paddock:
Friday Paddock - after Free Practice is completed.
Saturday Paddock - after Q1 is completed; after Q2 is completed.
Hot tip: Watch for large crowds by garages – it likely means the rider will emerge soon.
Sunday Paddock - Very hard to get an autograph pre-race. You may have a chance near 'warm up' time which is usually scheduled 9:40am on Sunday. My post-race verdict - it's a bittersweet feeling being in the paddock post race. mainly because bump-out literally begins the moment the race finishes, so everyone is packing up. The riders who place top three are committed to media for at least 1 hour and 30 minutes from the time to race is finished, so chances of getting their autograph are slim to none at this point.
Moto2 Riders - autographs
Moto2 rider garages are located towards the back of the paddock, near Moto3. Very easy to gain an autograph from these riders across the weekend, as they can usally be found casually walking though the paddock.
Moto3 Riders - autographs
You will be able to get a Moto3 riders autograph and picture without any issues across Friday to Sunday as the Moto3 garage area is open to paddock pass holders, and is my favourite spot in the paddock as you can watch teams prepare the bikes. The best time to approach is outside of practice, qualifications or racing sessions, as this section gets barricaded during those times.
What if I don't have a Paddock Pass?
Not to worry! The Australian MotoGP holds autograph sessions for general admission holders throughout the race weekend, make sure to follow their socials and website to see which riders will be doing signings and the times.
In 2022, they also introduced the Hero Walk which takes place on Saturday and Sunday morning, giving fans the opportunity to interact with riders. However, this is an additional ticketed event. There is a 2-day pass which is $20 but it seems to be sold out at the time of writing. The one day passes are $10 each, but are also sold out. Check this link incase more tickets become available.
In 2025, make sure to purchase these as soon as released, there are very limited spectator spots for the Hero Walk and therefore sellout instantly.
Enjoy! And drop a comment post Phillip Island if this method worked for you.
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