In a not so distant past, riders got fit their own way.
In one hand, they held a bottle that didn’t have water or an energy drink in it, and in the other a cigarette and some good looking babes hanging on to their arms.
While former Superbike bad boy, Marco Lucchinelli likes to tell that on the eve of a race, he stayed up all night rockin’ at a Van Halen concert and the next day he won, but nowadays racing and fitness go hand and hand, and it’s very serious and scientific business.
So it’s not surprising that Troy Corser, Leon Haslam, James Toseland and Aryton Badovini find themselves at BMW’s fitness camp for a week of intense physical and psychological sports training, and diets (hope they won’t turn into lightweights like Nicky Hayden has become) and get this, they also have to take German language lessons, so they can learn to say chassis and some other highly technical term.
“Basically, we are looking for a complete fitness training”, said team doctor Dr.
Vincenzo Tota, who guides the BMW fitness camp.
“So, for example, we are doing some mountain biking as an aerobic training, or climbing as an exercise for specific muscles.
While climbing, you use calves and forearms, like you do on the bike.
And you also train your balance.
With the weight lifting, we increase the power of the muscles.
But in order to also improve stamina and resistance, we do not go for big weights, but for a lot of repetitions with small weights.
” “All the riders are in very good shape”, Dr.
Tota said regarding the results of the medical evaluations.
“The only one who was here last year is Troy, and we can see that his physical condition has improved enormously from last year to this year.
The other riders who have been tested are also in very good shape.
One of the targets of the fitness camp is to bring the riders together in another environment than the paddock.
Of course, we will not make them friends, but they will respect each other, and that’s what we achieved here.
”“The fitness camp is good fun, but at the same time pretty tough”, commented BMW Motorrad Motorsport works rider, Troy Corser.
“My stomach really hurts, as we have worked out a lot with exercises for our abdominal muscles.
We have done a Cooper test and my fitness level is already quite good compared to the kids, who are about ten years younger than me.
I enjoyed the rock climbing most of all.
It is about speed, agility and pre anticipation.
We all get along together very well and we have great fun.
I am now looking forward to our next test in Jerez next week which I am about to go to.
”“The atmosphere at the fitness camp is really great”, confirmed his team mate Leon Haslam.
“I also enjoyed the climbing most of all.
We even had to wear our racing helmets while doing it, and this was something completely new for me.
The intention was to limit the view and to reduce the oxygen supply.
As usual, at this time of the season my fitness is at its lowest level, but I am still very satisfied, as my test results are very good.
Now I am looking forward to the forthcoming tests in Jerez and Portimão.
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