They had barely stepped off the plane taking them from the Australian Grand Prix when Petronas drivers Franco Morbidelli, Adam Norrodin, Khairul Idham Pawi, John McPhee and Ayumu Sasaki were welcomed in Shah Alam, the capital of the Malaysia, by huge numbers of fans, within a huge PR organization put together by their team's major backers Petronas and the Sepang International Circuit. Fabio was not participating in the initial phase of this welcome, needing some rest and fitness after his fall from Phillip Island.
The arrival reception was in place at the airport:
Admirers came in large numbers:
Video: Meet the fans upon arrival:
Meeting fans, signing autographs, saying hello 👋 🇲🇾#PETRONASmotorsports | #MotoGP | #MalaysianGP pic.twitter.com/7QhC1Lx8BI
- PETRONAS SRT (@sepangracing) October 29, 2019
The glamor was there:
After the warm welcome from the pilots as they disembarked from their plane, the organization's staff took them for interviews with local television and radio stations, a police escort being welcome to navigate the traffic jams of Shah Alam and arrive on time to various media meetings.
Franco Morbidelli, John McPhee and Ayumu Sasaki received by Fly FM 958:
Adam Norrodin and Khairul Idham Pawi, guests of Hot FM 976:
Franco Morbidelli in the management of TV3 Malaysia:
Morbidelli and McPhee, in TV star version:
Tonight, at Shah Alam Stadium, there will be a friendly football match between the Petronas drivers (and some VIPs) forming SRT FC, or “Sepang Racing Team Football Club” against Hafizh Syahrin’s team “Pescao Rosar”. reinforced by a few friends (free entry):
And very soon, the serious things will begin:
Note the courtesy of the SIC Petronas team which does not highlight one of its motorcycles to promote the event, but that of another team:
