13th Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Students Achieve New Heights on Day 3

The third-day programme of the 13th Yamaha VR46 Master Camp pushed the six riders to up their performance levels in superhot conditions. They returned to Valentino Rossi's Motor Ranch in the morning, this time for a soft-cross session with Flat Track Instructor Marco Belli and Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team's Jeremy Alcoba. In the afternoon they were joined by multi MotoGP eSport Champion Lorenzo Daretti (aka Trastevere73) for an eSport challenge before their relaxing gym session.

Gonzalo Sanchez Melendez (age 15, Spain), Takumi Takahashi (age 16, Japan), Dorian Joulin (age 17, France), Aymon Bocanegra (age 14, Peru), Wahyu Nugroho (age 21, Indonesia), and Md Adamhaikal Bin Jahar (age 19, Malaysia) were keen to step aboard the YZ125 bikes for a soft-cross lesson.

Instructor Belli was impressed, saying:
"I put Jeremy in charge of the soft-cross class, and he tried to pass on his experience with this discipline to the guys. Four of the six already had experience and two were new to it, and I think this edition of the Master Camp programme is going very well. We are building onto their existing levels and every lesson we give them is just one little step to make. Overall, we're raising their self-awareness as a rider, so they can push themselves more and more every training session, but in a realistic manner, without overdoing it."

Alcoba also had a good time, he added:

"It was a really good session. Let me start by saying that riding at the VR46 Motor Ranch was always a dream for me. Riding soft cross here is great fun! The jumps at this track are made very well. I saw the guys make a great improvement, they did really well. Some better than others, but that was all due to past MX experience. But I'm happy because they improved, they were pushing themselves, and nobody took it too far, which is easily done.

"On Day 4, I will push them a bit more. Day 3 was for training and fun, but on Day 4 we get down to business!"

Back from lunch, it was time for a friendly MotoGP eSport match-off. The riders held a qualifying and two races (one held in Misano and the other in Sepang). The winner overall was Bocanegra, with Joulin coming second, and Nugroho finishing third.

Their teacher Daretti commented:

"It was a really good second session. The guys improved their riding a lot. We've seen great battles for the podium. Aymon won both races. He was maybe not the fastest rider out of them, but he used his head, kept first position, and won the Master Camp eSport challenge.

"In the end, Dorian and Wahyu had the same number of points, 36, after the two races. So we did an extra 5-lap race in Aragon as a tiebreaker. Dorian won this race and therefore got second place, and Wahyu was third.

"I really enjoyed seeing them race. You can tell by their control and their ability to avoid the curbs that they improved, because it's easy to crash if you brake on the curbs. They became more precise in riding. The key during these races is not to crash and remain 'alive'."

After the gaming, the pupils headed to the FISIO GYM to do some stretching exercises with the aim of helping their bodies recover after a full-on first three days of training.

Comments

Gonzalo Sanchez Melendez

"The soft-cross session went very well. I felt at ease right away with the YZ125, considering that it was the first time for me. I improved lap by lap and little by little. I had a lot of fun! The whole morning was awesome. Marco and Jeremy helped me a lot! I struggled especially on corner entry and in the middle of the corners. They taught me the right position during the jumps and in the turns, and their advice was crucial, so I'm so grateful to them. The eSport sessions didn't go so well. I have never had a PlayStation to practise with, so I'm not familiar with it. It's not for me, but I still had a good time with the other guys and with Lorenzo Daretti. We had a lot of funny moments, and that creates a great atmosphere at the Master Camp."

Takumi Takahashi

"The motorcycle we used in the soft-cross session was a two-stroke, unlike the 250cc I usually ride, but I think I was able to adapt quickly and performed well. Jeremy was a very reliable teacher. He ran in front of me and showed me the skills I needed to improve and gave me the right advice. I usually don't play much eSports, but I played better than yesterday. I am happy that I recorded the fastest lap in two of the three circuits we played today."

Dorian Joulin

"The motocross session was great, I learnt a lot and I had great sensations and an adrenaline rush, it was incredible. Jeremy and Marco Belli taught me the correct position on the bike from the start to the end of the jumps, so I gained confidence and was able to do all the jumps. The eSport races were complicated because I fell a lot and this held me back, otherwise I could have done better."

Aymon Bocanegra

"The soft-cross session was amazing. I learnt a lot because I have practised motocross only twice before. But now I feel I am more familiar with it. Marco Belli and Jeremy taught me how to jump, and I feel much better on the bike now. But the highlight was eSport. I loved it, and I won the two races, so I am very happy!"

Wahyu Nugroho

"Soft cross is nice, and the track was really good, even if I'm not really good at it. But I enjoyed it a lot. The instructors, Marco Belli and Jeremy Alcoba, taught us the basics and also how to improve our riding. Jeremy also was following us on track, so that was good. He could tell us how and where we could do better. The session with Lorenzo Daretti was also fun because it was my first time participating in a MotoGP eSport competition. I was surprised that I was able to secure third position overall."

Md Adamhaikal Bin

"The soft-cross session was very good for me. I gained experience and more confidence to ride the bike. Jeremy Alcoba taught me how to control the throttle before the jump, and Marco Belli taught me how to slide and use the throttle in the turns. The eSport races were quite fun and awesome, but I need more practice to be good at playing the game."