GUEST WHO SEBASTIAN KUHN
‘Unsung hero’ – one who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition for them.
This line alone just keeps me thinking. In these uncertain times we all know who are essential to society, when others need to be patient while staying at home. Those who have tough jobs, both physically and mentally, to support others. In my point of view these people are clearly unsung heroes.
In my case, I was one of those staying at home, following the social distancing advice and other health related regulations. Working in MotoGP for KTM – one of the biggest and most successful motorcycle manufacturers (307 FIM world championship titles) – is a privilege. When the pandemic became a huge public issue in mid-March, KTM reacted quickly with the support of the Austrian government and implemented measures for their employees, so our circumstances were set.
Let’s be honest, racing might not be deemed essential but for KTM it’s almost a second priority (after the health and safety of their staff and partners). ‘Racing never stops’ is something of a maxim around here, so my colleagues and I are never just sat at home doing nothing. You take the time to evaluate and to prepare for the season that will eventually start (that’s clearly a marketing statement, I don’t mention my lazy days watching 500cc races. It’s ‘research’ … kind of).
I am in a very good position. I am not personally affected by the virus. My family and friends are safe, I have a job that I love. But of course, we all have to deal with the aftermath in terms of changes and a more cautious world. Does this affect me? Oh yes. Do I have huge respect for what could happen? Yes again. Does it scare me? No. It’s a new daily routine. To make it simple: I am responsible for motorsport communications. So basically, enabling communication between the ‘transmitter’ and the ‘receiver’. In my case – connecting a MotoGP rider with the correct medium and dealing with the outcome.
I deal with a lot of people with different job descriptions: journalists, producers, management, team-mates (mostly engineers), sponsors, fans and many more motorsport enthusiasts. An emotional bond with these people is essential for doing the job. With this ‘new normal’ my tools and my way of handling the job will change. It’s getting even more digital – less personal. Direct face-to-face communication will be a challenge due to masks or hosting virtual media appointments. These are obstacles for direct communication and could lead to misunderstanding (which creates even more work for me). Is it more difficult to deal with? Probably; we are working in multiple languages after all. A rider like Pol Espargaró will first talk with the press in English, then in Spanish, then in Catalan. Sometimes in broken Italian. Is this a problem? No, we just have to ride with the new ‘track’.
I am one of the guys in the background. That is seen in the team photos (sometimes, when I’m not organising the picture) and you might see me briefly on TV in the pit box. I might be helping pass information on to these very pages for you to read. Am I an ‘unsung hero’ just because my situation needs adaption now or because I have to deal with new challenges? When it comes to this special situation, we are all in the same boat and we are all affected differently. Being in lockdown in Austria, where you were able to go for a walk (or run as you took the time to get rid of oscillating weight), was vastly different from the strict rules in somewhere like Italy or Spain. We all had our own obstacles.
I can name many unsung heroes from the racing family. It’s a cliché but that’s what MotoGP truly is: a large collection of mainly the same people travelling, working, existing and competing for nine months of the year. First of all, there’s our KTM management who ensure that we all get paid and can continue working for what we love. Then there’s everyone involved in making sure a MotoGP season actually happens this year, so we can create excitement/ action/emotions for all fans at home. Also, there are people who are dealing with a new environment and daily upheaval (like our MotoGP team co-ordinators who have a tough job handling more than 40 team members from 17 nations!). As I mentioned it might feel trite to compare our jobs and duties to those of far more use and value outside of the racing bubble but I think these last few months have allowed us all some time to recognise even more what we do, why we do it and the choices we have made.
MotoGP finally gets closer. A big step back to my normal (but different). KTM were the first ones to restart the engines with a private test at Red Bull Ring with Pol Espargaró and Dani Pedrosa on the RC16s. Hearing the sound of this motorcycle for the first time in ages gave goose bumps even to the most ingrained mechanic. This sensation is what we wanted to try and deliver to every race fan at the first rounds; even though it wasn’t the same without the public in the stands and excitedly walking in the paddock.
MotoGP will look different, feel different but
– in our world – the fleet of unsung heroes will go back to creating a show.
Well, that’s me just back from the pre-season Donington test day. The final day of getting to sort ourselves out before competition gets going properly and strangely enough, it was also the first time we have been on track with each other and it’s the middle of summer!
Between us, pre-season testing always ends up being a bit of a ‘willy waving’ competition, and if that analogy holds true then my willy stayed well and truly shrivelled up and hiding away. It’s safe to say that testing hasn’t been exactly as I had hoped for in the run-up to this season. Apart from that virus getting in the way of things, I just haven’t quite managed to fully gel with my bike yet. I’ve had flashes of feeling but never quite got massively comfortable as I would like to be. I mean I haven’t jumped off her yet (although I have been damn close on a good few occasions) so things are not too bad in that respect but I just haven’t put in the lap times that I expect of myself and the bike I’m sat aboard.
This final test got off to a bit of a frustrating start even before (or as) I arrived. Having been sat in a state of pure excitement at the prospect of getting going again properly, I had my van packed well, well in advance. All packed up except for my brand new set of shiny Alpinestars leathers which I had kept in the house for safe keeping (and occasional sleeping in) until transferring them, nicely boxed to the garage where I knew they would be lovely and safe. As I arrived at Donington on the eve of the test I was ready to explode with excitement and just couldn’t wait to show my shiny new suit off to all my mates – except I couldn’t, could I!? Because they were still safely tucked away in a box in my garage.
If I was still living in the Peak District then maybe not a huge issue but the fact I now live in Newcastle meant the three-hour journey I had just done was about to get re-done and then done again! The missus offered to meet me half way with my suit which was a bloody brilliant idea except for the fact that genius here had decided to take the garage keys with him. Not a single part of my brain can fathom why I took a set of keys for a garage door 175 miles away but I did and so there we have it. Nine hours after setting off, I had arrived at the hotel!
But yeah, we ironed out a few bits, the final day of testing is completed (and in my new suit) but at the moment it’s a work in progress. I’m not stressed yet. Racing is like this and certainly in my experience I have never been a great one in testing for boshing out mint lap times so I’m keeping positive. By the time you read this then plenty of racing will be in the books and I guess we will all know if we managed to find that ‘feeling’ I’ve been looking for.
Until then I have seven days now to get myself set up for the season ahead. Dad’s caravan is coming out of retirement and after being fumigated will be my camp for the 2020 BSB season. I have another lid to collect and another special delivery from Alpinestars is currently on its way. That box is getting packed straight away in the van for sure! I’m hoping I can squeeze a few more days’ riding in on the motocross bike too. I’ve been doing loads of MX lately after buying myself a new steed and I have got right back into it. I’ve always loved riding motocross and probably the most positive part of pre-season testing is that despite having not ridden the SBK in so long, all that MX means I can ride the Ducati without hardly breaking into a sweat.
Anyways, enough from me for now. I’m hoping beyond hope to see a load of you guys and girls at the racing depending on what Boris and BSB will say. We are currently allowed to meet up with ‘groups’ of friends in open spaces such as parks. I’m thinking a group of around 30,000 meeting will be fine at Donington ‘Park’?
Well, things are starting to look up a bit, aren’t they? Well hopefully that is, and I don’t want to jinx anything, but now things are opening, racing is returning and a little bit of normality has resumed, it can really only be good news… although after a little jaunt to my holiday home in Mallorca, I’m glad I got back just before the quarantine came into place! It means I’ve been living like a proper retired old man; I went up to Scotland for a bit, did some fishing, played a bit of golf, and I’ve got to tell you, it’s bored me senseless. I don’t know how so many people do it!
Mind you, I’m still not sure when we’ll be properly up and running again – I love doing all the shows, and going to all those classic events, but for now the only thing that hasn’t been cancelled is Scarborough at the end of August – I’m just hoping that it all goes ahead, and everything is good for that to roll. Those guys and girls have put a lot of effort into making it happen, so it will be great if it can still take off this year.
And talking of taking off, how good is it to see a new road race hitting the calendar for next year? I know a lot of people (including me, actually) are still a bit worried after that whole Welsh Road Race fiasco, but we have it on good authority that this should be smoother. It’s got a bit more grunt behind it, but I’m just hoping that everyone on the Isle of Wight wants to welcome it as much as we want to see it… I mean, the layout looks absolutely ace.
Oh, and let’s not forget that we finally have racing on our screens! It’s been a long time coming, but it really did not disappoint. I mean, I know the result didn’t show it, but you have to hand it to Marquez.
The way he saved that slide, and then came through the field like he did? The kid is still special, and he’s an animal.
In all honesty, his crash was a bit odd how it was so late on, and even though he’s battered, he came back and gave it a crack, which is seriously impressive. I think my biggest surprise was Bagnaia though, and I really think he’s the real deal. He seems to have a proper head on him, a great style, and I reckon he’ll go far. Maybe not as far, as quickly as Quatararo, but it’s definitely there, and it will make the next few rounds incredibly interesting.
And the best part is, by the next few rounds we’ll also be having some BSB and WSBK on our screens as well.
I, for one, can’t bloody wait!