A brilliantly entertaining chronicle on one of Australia’s first world recognised sporting heroes, Wayne also surprises in its presentation of a love story that endured many obstacles.

The late 1980s marked the time when Australia made itself known on the world stage. Mel Gibson emerged as a new era leading man, INXS dominated the radio, and Paul Hogan urged everyone to “put another shrimp on the barbie!”.  It was also the time when a young daredevil motorcyclist from the humble burbs of Wollongong became a global sports star. His name is Wayne Gardner.

Wayne, a new documentary from director Jeremy Sims (Last Cab to Darwin), chronicles Gardner’s rise to fame with much fun and honesty. Using archival footage, a varied array of interview heads (including Gardner himself), and an excellent use of animation segments, Sims presents a warts and all story about how a speed demon from the “Gong” become a worldwide superstar. As a result, Wayne proves to be one of the best examples of a sports themed documentary to come from Australia, easily competing with the deluge of sports documentaries from the States that churn them out at a regular click.

Especially compelling in Sims documentary is the love story between Gardner and his long-time girlfriend Donna-Lee Kahlbetzer. Usually the addition of a girlfriend on the road ends with disaster of Spinal Tap proportions. Yet here is a love story that survives all matter of ups, downs, and tumbles that comes their way. And speaking of tumbles, it would be hard not to wince and awe at the high-speed spectacle of 500cc motorbikes whizzing across a track at breakneck speed.

The most memorable thing about Wayne is, of course, Gardner himself. Forthright and humble in that down to Earth Aussie way, Gardner proves that there is no sports superstar like an Aussie sports superstar, with “The Wizard of Wollongong” the kind of guy you would like to share a beer with, and place on a pedestal as one of the greats in his chosen profession. So it goes with Wayne: an entertaining documentary, and one of the best of its kind.