A weekend with Shell and Ducati

MANILA, Philippines - Pilipinas Shell recently sent The Philippine STAR, through this writer, to Malaysia for the final of the Shell Advance 7 Riding Wonders Global Promotion at the 2011 Shell Advance Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang, Malaysia... And boy, was it one trip to remember!

Our weekend started off at the posh Rootz Club in Lot 10, KL. We were there with Shell Advance Media Officer Maria Jose Garcia to attend the launch of the Ducati Monster 795, which is the first Ducati assembled in Thailand. Garcia used to work with the Ducati MotoGP team and as Shell and Ducati have a worldwide technincal partnership, it was but apt that we attended the launch. No less than Ducati’s MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi, more popularly known as “The Doctor,” graced the event. Ducati officials headed by Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali and Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Dr. Ng Yen Yen were also present. Shell officials from different parts of Asia together with their respective media guests joined us as well.

Friday morning was an exciting day since it was our day one at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). The circuit’s media center is just awesome. Almost a hundred international media were in one huge room, each with a table and chair with our names and media outfits on it, internet connection, and power outlet plus dozens of LCDs hanging on the ceiling. During this day we got to tour the garage of the Shell-Ducati MotoGP team and had the chance to see one of their riders, 7-time champion Valentino Rossi. We had a 10 minute interview with “The Doctor” at a small receiving area of the Ducati team tent at the back of the pit building where I was joined by only a handful of international media. At the end of the day, Shell Advance Global Marketing Manager Tanmay Jaswal tendered a welcome dinner for all their media guests in our hotel, the Crowne Plaza in Kuala Lumpur.

Saturday was also fun-filled with our interview with Ducati MotoGP Team Manager Vittoriano Guareschi and another tour at the pit garage this time while Valentino Rossi and teamate, 2006 MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden were practicing. In the afternoon, Hayden granted us an interview.

Our dinner at the Shell suite in the VIP Village of SIC was the main event of our trip – the finals of the Shell Advance 7 Riding Wonders Global Promotion wherein only 7 of the 22 destinations from 20 countries with the most votes would be named the 7 Riding Wonders of the World. There were seven panelists including Hayden, and Sepang International Circuit CEO Razlan Razali and Michael Knaack, project manager for Shell’s technical partnership with Ducati. Jaswal said, “When Shell Advance launched the 7 Riding Wonders of the World campaign, we were asking bike enthusiasts to help us find the riding roads, tracks and routes around the world that best complement our ethos of Responsiveness, Control and Enjoyment.”

Our very own Northern Luzon Loop of the Philippines made it to the Top 7! This 1,200km. ride was chosen as one of the most thrilling, stunning, and inspirational motorbike riding roads in the world. But only one has to be crowned the Ultimate Riding Wonder and that honor went to the Coorg to Munnar via Ooty route in India. This 507km. journey takes you first through flat roads and twisties then up into the hills as you enjoy the sight and smell of coffee, pepper, cinnamon and tea plantations along the way. One lucky guest, Alessandro Donadello from Italy also won the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit India and the Ultimate Riding Wonder.

Sunday was raceday. A bonus from Shell for us media guests. As I was going to and from the media center and the Shell Suite I could feel the excitement of the crowd especially those of the Ducati fans of Rossi and Hayden since this was the penultimate race of MotoGP this year. As for the standings, Guareschi told us, “We are still trying to get that podium finish but if not this year, then definitely next year.”

You’ll never feel very important when away from home... unless you’ve experienced Shell hospitality. A truly global solution.