Darwin’s waterfront welcome brought the MXGP paddock closer to its Australian crowd

Fans gathered at Darwin Waterfront to meet leading riders during a large signing session featuring representatives from MXGP, MX2 and WMX. Jeffrey Herlings, Tom Vialle, Romain Febvre, Guillem Farres, Camden McLellan, Daniela Guillen and Kiara Fontanesi were among the competitors available for autographs and photographs.

The most significant element came before the signing tables opened. Following a didgeridoo performance, a Larrakia elder delivered a Saltwater Welcome to Country and blessing of the waterfront. Riders received an explanation of the ceremony before taking a symbolic barefoot step into the water, acknowledging the Larrakia people as the Traditional Custodians of the Darwin area.

The evening closed with horseman and country musician Tom Curtain performing alongside his working animals before singing on horseback. That combination of Indigenous ceremony, Outback tradition and direct paddock access distinguished the event from a conventional race promotion.

For a championship operating far from its European base, this kind of engagement matters. It allowed international riders to meet the Australian audience on local terms while giving supporters access to the paddock’s leading names before competition moved to Hidden Valley.