Rara Istiani Wulandari was literally the saviour of Sunday’s race in Indonesia and, by popular demand, we have the exclusive interview with the Indonesian Shaman of MotoGP.
First of all, thank you Rara for saving Sunday. We felt sure it was going to be another pointless five hours waiting for the race to never materialise.
You’re welcome. But it’s the spirits you need to thank!
Indeed. How did you get the call up to do your magic on the track?
I think the organisers were panicking that the race would be cancelled so they rang me and asked if I could help out. Obviously it was the only way a local was ever going to see the track on race day so I of course jumped at the chance.
You have been in demand since Sunday?
Yes. My newly appointed agent says we’re booked up for all kinds of events throughout the year now.
Predictably when you sat down on the track and started doing your thing there were lots of doubters. Although not us obviously. How does that feel?
I knew you guys at MotoGPNews wouldn’t be naysayers and would have an open mind which is why I agreed to this exclusive interview. People often mock what they don’t know or understand. It’s why Australians laugh at people who can read.
You’ve really brought the skills of a Shaman to the forefront of all MotoGP fans. Until now most people only thought of the Shaman being a terrible 90s dance band with one popular hit about ecstasy.
That is a tad unfortunate but at least we’re not associated with Daniel Bedingfield.
Did you see Fabio Quartararo doing an impression of your skills? Badly?
Haha! Yes. He maybe a MotoGP champion but he still has a long way to go before being a Shaman. Interestingly the French are usually the first to want the rain to stop as it’s worryingly close to having a bath for them.
Good point. How did you get into being a Shaman?
By accident really. It pisses it down here a lot and sometimes it’s really annoying because you want to hang the washing out or dry out some mangosteens.
Anyway one rainy evening I decided to wash out my trusty mortar and pestle in the rain outside and as I did the rain started to stop and the sun came out. A neighbour was watching me and yelled “by doing that you’ve just stopped the rain and it was in no way coincidental at all. You have a gift to change the weather.”
I thought yes I have a gift, and in no way was that one incident pure luck and that I should build a career out of it. It was also a much easy job than working on a cruise ship.
That’s an amazing story. What happened next?
Well knowing that it was my mortar and pestle action that caused the weather changed I jazzed them up a bit with tassels and sparkly stones – you know so the punters think they’re getting their money’s worth.
And it works?
Oh yes. I get calls all the time.
You just go straight out and make the rain stop?
Yes. Kind of. What I usually do is check the weather app on my phone to find out when the rain will stop as I don’t really like getting wet. The rain here really annoys me. Anyway once I know it’s going to clear up I head out, do my ritual and using the God-given power inside me get the rain to stop.
That’s amazing. Can you do any other spells?
Yes. I have a great ritual that uses the spirits to bring good fortune to travellers
Does it work?
Of course. For example my uncle was having to make a trip to Malaysia last year where he had a long journey to the very north of the country. He’d never been to Malaysia before and was extremely worried about the arduous expedition so he came to me asking for me to ensure he would not come to any harm whilst in Malaysia.
And it worked?
Totally. He was hit by a bus on the way to the ferry and never made it to Malaysia. If that’s not proof I don’t know what is.
Is there a spell that could get Bradley Smith back on the grid in 2023? Possibly on a plum factory ride?
I think even the combined efforts of all the spirits may struggle with that request. There is an upper limit to what’s possible.
Okay, what about stopping Jake Dixon from falling off in Moto2?
Again, you’re pushing your luck.
Thank you for you time
You’re welcome.