Murdoch takes MotoGP ride.

Motorcycle fanatic Lachlan Murdoch, elder son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, rode three laps of the high-speed Phillip Island track on the Ducati Marlboro Desmosedici two-seater, on Friday at the Australian Grand Prix.

The ride, behind former 500GP winner Randy Mamola, was a 35th birthday present arranged by his wife Sarah.

"It was excitement all the way, I enjoyed it a lot," said Murdoch, who rides on the street and the racetrack. "Randy was a fantastic rider but it's hard to put my feelings into words. You don't realise the performance of these bikes, especially the braking, until you've been on them. It was a wonderful birthday present, so thanks to my wife and everyone involved."

Murdoch, based in Sydney, rides a Ducati 996SPS on the street. He has ridden several racetracks including Laguna Seca and Willow Springs in the States and Australia's Eastern Creek.