Motorcycle champion Mick Doohan found the media circus around Johnny Depp and his dogs "hilarious" and apparently the Hollywood heartthrob also had a laugh.
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Doohan had been hosting Australia's newest alleged quarantine criminals at his Coomera mansion while the 51-year-old actor filmed the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
"To be honest I think he thinks it's quite humorous how him just wanting to leave the country to visit his daughter can be such big news," Doohan said when asked about the star's reaction to the attention.
"...He's a humorous type of guy.
"I think he's just disappointed at the way that it's been relentless you know."
Doohan said he hadn't closely followed the controversy sparked when Depp brought Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo into the country without declaring them but found the situation "hilarious".
"Some of the things that I've seen and heard, if only a tenth of it were true, you know it'd maybe have some more credibility about it but anyway that's life, it keeps everyone entertained."
The motorcycle legend warned the incident could have negative consequences for the Gold Coast and the country as a whole attracting stars in the future.
"I think it'll struggle, I think Australia will struggle to attract people out here if that's the way they carry on," he said.
Pistol and Boo shot to international attention when Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce threatened to have them killed if they weren't removed from the country.
The ensuing quarantine imbroglio saw the dogs snuck out of Doohan's mansion and returned to the United States.
Depp and wife Amber Heard followed on Monday, reportedly flying home to celebrate daughter Lily-Rose's 16th birthday.
Their departure came as government officials confirmed Depp could face up to 10 years in prison or a maximum fine of $340,000 for bypassing Australia's strict quarantine laws and smuggling the pampered pooches into Australia.
