"You've Got To Be An Arsehole Sometimes"
WAYNE: The Wayne Gardner Story
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Amidst photographs and footage of 1970's & 80's
motorcycle racing a soundtrack plays, similar to the
scenes from the 1971 classic, On Any Sunday. Fitting
really, Wayne Gardner admits that this movie influ-
enced him greatly to become a motorcycle racer.
WAYNE: The Wayne Gardner Story begins and it
immediately grabs the viewer, especially those with
an interest in motorcycle racing and in particular,
Grand Prix racing. The pace is fast, edgy and where
there's no footage, clever use of animation replaces.
The pace builds as the movie progresses, footage of
Australian motorcycle racing from the 70's and 80's
is a fascinating look at the dangers, the speed, the
unique sub-culture, something no modern MotoGP
racer would consider. To Wayne Gardner and his
contemporaries it was a normal way of life and the
makers of this film have captured it perfectly.
As the film continues we see Gardner's relation-
ship with his girlfriend Donna Forbes. The pair love
each other but you get the impression that Gardner is
more in love with the sport and perhaps even himself
as he builds his career and begins being recognised
by the greater world of motorcycle racing, soon gain-
ing a start in the World Championship when he takes
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to the Assen track for the 1983 Dutch TT.
It' a race forever marked in history as Gardner
collides with the reigning world champion, Fran-
co Uncini, almost taking the Italians life. It's a life
changing moment for both men, and a point when
the movie changes pace.
Concentrating on the world of Grand Prix racing
the movie seems a little rushed and repeats many al-
ready known facts about Gardner, it hints of rivalries
off the track with American Eddie Lawson yet doesn't
really delve into what might have been happening.
Old footage is mixed with interviews and what seems
to be overdubbed commentary, it looses a little of it'
authenticity. The animations no longer continuing
making the film feel a little disjointed.
Funnily, Wayne will keep you enthralled to the
end, the positives in this film far outweigh the neg-
atives, and gives an insight into the life of Australia's
first motorcycling World Champion, a man who did
so much for the sport down under. Whether you're a
fan or not, Wayne is certainly worth watching.
Released in Australia on September 6, 2018 we're
hoping other regions will get Wayne in the very near
future.
TRAVERSE 106