THE MASTER CAMP Students Step up Training on Minibike Track

The VR46 Academy riders continued to play a big role in the education of the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp riders today, the fourth day of the programme. In the morning Francesco Bagnaia taught the riders how to train on a racing simulator and the afternoon was filled with Nicolò Bulega taking the Master Camp riders MiniGP racing at the Misanino KCE World Circuit Marco Simoncelli before he taught them all about karting.

Today the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp offered the students new ways to practise their riding skills. The students were taken under the wing of VR46 Riders Academy's Francesco Bagnaia at the gym and also Nicolò Bulega at the Misanino KCE World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to further improve their riding skills.

Despite an extra early wake-up call, the Master Camp riders were full of energy as they rushed to the gym for the last time this week, to attend a very special training session. After a quick warm-up to loosen the muscles the group split into two: one half continued training while the other half went with Bagnaia to have a go on the race simulator and do a hot lap around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The groups later swapped places. Bagnaia explained how to operate the machine and did a flying lap to set a benchmark and then it was time for the students to suit up. The group that wasn't training with Bagnaia was taught new pilates exercises that benefit the elasticity of their muscles. The gym session ended with a bit of cycling on the exercise bikes.

The riders then headed to Tavullia for a quick shopping spree at the VR46 store, before having lunch under the Italian sunshine with ice cream for dessert - their favourite part of the meal.

The riders could hardly wait to join Bulega at the Misanino KCE World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for a MiniGP session. After the rider briefing they quickly changed into their leathers again and went to reacquaint themselves with their Yamaha VR46 Master Camp minibikes during a practice session. When the riders felt like stepping it up to the next level, they held a short race, which was won by Kasma Daniel Bin Kasmayudin, ahead of Galang Hendra Pratama and Apiwat Wongthananon in second and third place respectively, but the fun wasn't over yet.

Not long after the race, Bagnaia took up his role as teacher of the day again and led the Master Camp group out on track, with karts provided by Birel Art and TM Racing and in special kart suits. Though it was a completely new discipline for the Master Camp students they didn't hold back during the friendly practice session and made the tyres of their karts squeal in the corners.

The day ended with a barbecue to further enjoy the company of the Yamaha VR46 family.

Comments

Apiwat Wongthananon
"I really liked the new experience of training with the simulator. It was something I had never done before. The simulator has a lot of data and many aspects that influence it, that you have to put in the system before riding. It was also my first time to ride a 2-stroke MiniGP bike and a kart. I tried to adapt my riding to the bike and kart and to the circuit and tried my best to win the competitions. I will take all the techniques I learned today with me to Thailand, which will help me during the rest of the season. "

Peerapong Loiboonpeng
"The last time I came here two months ago I didn't get to ride on the simulator, but this time I did and it was great. It is really good practice before going out on the Misanino Kart Circuit. At the gym session we also did some new pilates exercises that were really good. It really helped me stretch my muscles. After the morning session we went to ride minibikes again, but this time at a different circuit than during Master Camp edition one. This circuit was really good and it was better than last time, because I gained new experience thanks to Bulega teaching me. I also learned a lot riding the karts today, which was a lot of fun, but at the same time quite difficult as it asks a lot of focus. I want to thank Yamaha again to give me the chance to come to Italy again. I will try to develop myself and try to ride better in the future." 

Galang Hendra Pratama
"It was the first time for me to ride on a simulator and I feel that it's very important as a part of physical training. It's also good for the riders that participate on world circuits, because it's an ideal way to refresh your memory on the lay-out of the circuit. Unfortunately, I don't have the opportunity to race on the Misano World Circuit often, but that added to my enjoyment of this experience. I really liked the Misanino Kart Circuit a lot because it is similar to the bigger circuit and it's fast. I really like tracks that are fast and wide enough to fight. I really enjoyed the MiniGP race, which was quite dramatic and I got second place, so I'm happy. Riding with karts was new for me, but it was an incredible experience. The hardest part is that the reaction time is longer than on a bike, so it requires a lot of concentration, but it's also a lot of fun."

Soichiro Minamimoto
"The simulator was more realistic that I expected and it was great training. I really liked the Misanino Kart Circuit because it is wide and fast, but frankly speaking, my level on minibikes is not as high as I want it to be. The previous track that we visited to ride minibikes at was smaller so it was easier for me to stay with the front group. It was harder here because it is bigger. It was new for me to ride karts and at first I was a little overwhelmed by the speed, but I gradually got a feel for it an improved and at the end I was really able to enjoy it."

Kasma Daniel Bin Kasmayudin
"It was the first time for me to use the simulator, but it felt very comfortable. It is very important as a part of training, not so much as a part of technical training, but more for my strength. The Misanino Kart Circuit, compared to the one we rode at last time, is wider and faster, but I actually liked the other a lot too because it was more technical which suits my style more, I like stop-start circuits. I started riding MiniGP bikes when I was eight years old so that's why I felt comfortable on the bike today and was able to win. I wasn't used to riding with karts, but I enjoyed it a lot because you can have a lot of fun with them."

Alessio Salucci
"I think today is a fantastic day for the guys. I can see their level is rising compared to the previous Yamaha VR46 Master Camp in July. I like seeing how the guys are evolving. They are growing up and this is the most important thing. It's also great to see that the new rider is already really good and fast and he gelled right in with the group, they are friends, which is very important because it's a part of the VR46 Riders Academy's spirit. It's good to be fast with the bike, but to become a part of the community is just as valuable. This is part of their education and I'm very happy about how today went. We were at a small track, for a MiniGP race, which is a little different from the Misano track we rode at on the first day. We are very impressed with how the riders are adapting their style, we can see them starting to ride more 'European' every day and that is very positive."