Walking the track

What does a circuit feel like when you walk it with no bikes on it?

Very calm. Very exciting.

Are you already imagining yourself riding?

Yes, and especially making reference points. That's most important.

What do you mean by reference points?

If my reference is a 50-metre board, that's where I brake.

What does it feel like to stand at a corner, knowing you'll come through it at race speed tomorrow?

I keep my hand on the throttle, and I don't let go until I see the chequered flag.

Portimão is a circuit you watched on television. What's it like to walk it?

Very good. Following in the steps of world championship riders.

Does anything look intimidating on foot but not on the bike?

I'd say the other way around. Maybe the last corner.

Portimão has huge elevation changes. Does it look the way it feels?

In person it may not look steep, but on the bike, when you're doing a wheelie, it feels like your heart's going to drop.

What's it like to walk those hills?

Good exercise for the next day. It warms up my muscles.

On that first walk, did you know what it would feel like on the bike?

Yes. I do all my investigation of the track beforehand.

What goes through your head on the first walk at a circuit you've never raced?

Just listen to the coach and get all the reference points down. If you brake where he says, you'll do a very good job.

What does your coach do on a track walk?

He explains how to take each corner, the braking zones, cautions and tricks that people may not know. He shows the racing line.

Do you picture where you could overtake someone, or where someone might overtake you?

Indeed. If I'm doing a 1:44 and he's doing a 1:43, I think, this is a corner where there's going to be a lot of action.

Have you ever walked a corner and thought, I have no idea how I'm going to take this?

Not really. Some corners are really, really tight, but you still get to the point where you just know what to do.

What do you notice on a walk that someone in the grandstand would never think about?

The temperature of the track. Bumps. Changes in the asphalt. How dirty or clean it is, because that makes a big difference, especially to the grip. You can tell just by walking over it.

What have you learned to look for now that you have more experience?

Maybe the escape zones. If there's a lot of room, you can afford to make an error. If there's no escape zone and it's straight into gravel, you have to be very careful.

What's your favourite moment: walking the empty circuit, sitting on the grid, or getting the first lap in?

Sitting on the grid and getting the first lap in.

Why?

Because the nerves disappear. You don't feel them.

It's the evening before the race. You're standing on the start-finish straight at Portimão and the circuit is empty. What are you thinking?

Tomorrow's going to be a great race, and I'm not going to make it easy for my opponents. I'm going to try and win this.