Race time: Just man and machine on the starting grid. What do MotoGP riders think about as they sit on the grid, watched anxiously by thousands of eyeballs? Moreover, what is the race day routine that allows riders to reach that race-time mindset?
RedBull.com caught up with the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team’s riders Brad Binder, Karel Hanika and Miguel Oliveira to find out how the talented trio approach a race weekend.
1. Race-day routine
Miguel Oliveira: Before the race I talk to the team about the race and what the plan is. Then there’s the process of getting ready with the leathers. At that point it’s all about concentration. There’s not a lot of talking that goes on!
Brad Binder: Between warm-up and the race I’ll go and get some pasta. Then, always 15 minutes before I need to leave the box, I start my physical warm-up. I do a bit of stretching, some push-ups. 10 minutes before a session, go to the toilet!
Karel Hanika: On race day, I always travel to the track with my team, and all my stuff is prepared from the previous evening; my leathers, helmet, they’re all ready for warm up. Before the race I just take it easy with my team and try to make the atmosphere relaxed and not too stressed.
2. The warm-up lap
BB: I’m always thinking that the next lap I come around here, I’ll be full gas. Before the race I’m always nervous, until the warm-up lap. When I go out for the warm-up lap all my nerves are gone.
KH: I don’t push, I just try to relax and I’m thinking about the next lap being a full-on race lap. I’m thinking about what the best racing lines are, where I can be fast and where I can overtake on the first lap of the race.
3. Final checks on the grid
BB: I always pull the gear lever up a lot of times to make sure I’m in first gear!
MO: I check I’m in first gear, the engine temperature, that launch control is activated, and that’s it. I’m ready!
KH: When the guy with the red flag is leaving the grid, I just try to keep my clutch pulled in and get the right feeling for the moment of release!
4. That final moment before the lights go out
KH: Before the lights, I’m ready to go and I don’t have any last things I would say. I’m focused on the lights and when they go out I have my 45 minutes of work to do.
BB: When the lights change, I’m just completely focused on them, and when they go out, it’s just go!
5. Superstitions
MO: I make the sign of the cross every time I head out on track.
BB: For some reason I’m always more relaxed on race days than on practice and qualifying days, I don’t know why.
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