An unusual weekend in the skin of a motorcycle racer

It would appear like a normal Pan Delta Super Racing Festival day, waking up early, wearing the ZIC logo white shirt and heading to Zhuhai Circuit. But if on the outside no signs would indicate something special, on the inside I am nervous and cannot get rid of the image of myself in the middle of 30 other motorcycle riders flying on the racetrack. And why that: because today is the first time in my life that I take part in a motorcycle race. I have practiced a number of times on the Zhuhai circuit, taken a few lessons to improve my riding, and was lucky enough to be instructed a few times by Simon and Nick from Track & Torque, Jimbo from Kwiktigi, Huang Shi Zhao and He Zi Xian at the time they were with BG team. So I could say that I am ready, but actually I am not sure that I would ever feel ready so I thought I had to stop waiting for that day and just face the challenge this time around. And to get a chance to face this new challenge there was a lot of preparation involved: training, discussion with other riders and getting my motorcycle racing license sorted out with the CMSA and the French Motorcycle Federation. But with good support from colleagues it all finally fell into place. And for some reason this time is Frestech Pan Delta Super Racing Festival, June 2008, turning out to be a fantastic sunny and hot weather event after 20 days of storms and rain.

So its early Saturday morning when I arrive at the circuit. I get changed from my ZIC work outfit to my ZIC Superbike racer outfit, back protector, suit, boots, gloves, earplugs and helmet, I am now unrecognizable. Yesterday was the first qualifying session and I improved my time significantly compared to my previous practice track days on the circuit, it’s a first personal victory. I recorded my best lap time and went under what I was until then seeing as my goal: under 2 minutes. The second qualifying is not as smooth and I cannot manage to achieve the lap times that I achieved yesterday. When I come back to the pit, I am disappointed, tired. But I need to calm down, my first race is coming at 1:30pm today and I need to focus on that goal.

The afternoon race is rapidly approaching and I make my way to the TT office to get changed again into racing outfit. I have a mixed feeling between relaxed, stressed out by the potential danger and excited about taking part in a first race. I make my way to the pit, walking with Nick who asks me about my feeling, but I am not too sure how I actually feel. Yesterday during the first practice session a first time racer crashed quite hard and injured himself, I have that image in my head, but to stay calm I remind myself that I am usually a cautious guy. and accept risks within a certain limit. Therefore, I know I will push myself only to a certain point.
I am sitting in the TT pit rented for the weekend, waiting for the pitlane light to turn green. Shows are taking place on the track, drifting and motorcycle stunts. I look at the clock, look outside at the pitlane light, look again at the clock and wonder why the show is not over yet. It seems to take forever. Now that I am on this side of the fence I can’t wait for the show to be over. Usually and when wearing my ZIC white shirt I try to squeeze a few more minutes for hotlaps and VIP activities knowing that my customers love them, funny right?
Its time to get on the bike and make my way to the grid. A warm-up lap and finally the starting sequence is about to commence. I totally screw it up as I switch into the wrong gear - stress I suppose, and maybe not fully used to the inverted gear shift that I modified for racing - . I end up second to last in the first corner. That does not please me at all! I push myself to catch up with the riders in front and manage to brake late in turn 4 which enables me to pass 2 riders at once. I have seen enough MotoGP races to know that if I loose the pack too soon I will not be able to catch up later. There are bikes everywhere surrounding me, the engines are roaring, a real beehive. I have the feeling that I am potentially faster than some bikes in front of me but I cannot manage to pass them, I get too worried when I close down on them and get a few meters away within passing distance. The laps go by and I see some opportunities for passing. This time its close, very close but I need to brake to avoid touching the bike in front...I need to calm down and breathe, I am getting tired, I am sweating heavily in this heat, its 35 celsius today…and suddenly there it is, I have an opening to pass 2 riders in turn 14 if I push a little more. So I push and manage to pass, my heart is revving, what an exciting moment. One more lap and I see the ‘last lap’ red light on the main straight lit up. I can somewhat relax now and hold my position until the end of this lap. But as expected the blue flag comes up to warn for faster riders coming and they are now blasting by me, full speed. It feels like I am standing still when they pass me, they are just way faster. A few more corners and I can see the checkered flag, it’s a real sign of relief and accomplishment; I exult…it feels as if I had won the race. And actually, I partly did, I won it against myself and achieved my first goal which was to simply finish the race in one piece. Going back to the pitlane I need to stop at the scruteneering bay for a routine check. I am so satisfied, and clapping at myself inside. I need some rest now.

On Sunday, the process is similar. Warm-up in the morning is not so smooth, a time change in the schedule brings the session forward 15 minutes. Some teams seem not to be informed about this time change. That bothers me and I cannot focus properly during the warm-up session. As a result I am once again disappointed with my lap time. But the race starts again in just a few hours: changing room, walk to the pit, mental preparation. And when the time comes to get on the track I am happily surprised to see many of my staff and colleagues join me on the grid to show their support, it’s a great feeling. Cameras are clicking, spectators can be heard in the grandstand commenting on the race about to start, but I feel elsewhere…I want to smile and show my appreciation but my mind is trying to focus on the starting sequence so I can improve it compared to yesterday. Things are racing through my head. The whistle of grid marshals is heard and VIPs, officials, mechanics slowly leave the grid. The bikes stay on their own with their riders atop them waiting for the final signal. The start process is launched, there is no going back and this time I want to do a good start. I let go of the clutch a little too fast and wheelie the bike as the lights go off, I feel that I am flying, but when the front wheel touches the ground again, riders pass me left, right and center. I want to catch up before turn 1, bikes slow down for the corner, try to squeeze in the tight and small spaces left before the turn. 7-8 intense laps have already gone by trying to pass, breaking, avoiding other bikes and accelerating hard after each corner. On the straights, I am lying on the tank and trying to breathe and relax. But at 220km/h speeds, 900 meters of main straight go by in a few seconds and relaxing while the bike is flying is not easy. Plus the first corner always comes faster than one would hope. Final lap, checkered flag and the race is done! Racing weekend over, I can now fully relax.

I am very satisfied with this experience. I lowered my lap time significantly, broke under 2 minutes a lap, experienced many unfamiliar feelings, pushed myself to new limits, got closer to the ZIC motorcycle community, it’s a lot for a first event. And have to say that I now understand better the huge efforts put into racing by riders and drivers alike. I admire their strong will, their spirit, and their determination to win a race. So much efforts is put into the bikes, the physical preparation, the practice hours on the circuit, that it makes it easy to end up frustrated by a bad result, a change of weather, schedule or rules. Each rider is trying his best to achieve a personal goal, and in that sense motorcycle racing is no different than other sports. Of course the danger is higher, numerous skills are required but it also brings more challenges and more excitement to the rider.

So thanks to all of you who have brought support to my project of discovering racing, living a passion and understanding better my job and my role in motorsports.

ZIC Superbike Rider number 75 aka. ZIC Ltd Director of Sales and Marketing
75 is the year I was born; but ‘75’ also represents the ‘department number’ for Paris where I was born (in France all ‘departments’ smaller than a ‘province’ have a number), so I thought it would bring me luck and it did for sure.

Benjamin Grenon
June 27, 2008