What Team HRC is up to during this COVID-19 lockdown

Michelle Liew

April 6, 2020

Team HRC General Manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas provides us with the details on how the team is coping during the lockdown.

Photo credits: Team HRC

The outbreak of COVID-19 has affected many races and teams throughout the world. At this time, certain teams and racers have been showing us how they spend their time during this period os self-isolation. Team HRC General Manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas has taken the liberty to show us what the team has been up to since the enforced break in their schedule.

“It is a very difficult time for everyone involved with the team right now. Everyone is back at home, in different parts of the world. All are trying to stay active and stay involved and ready to work when the right moment arrives. Of course, right now the main aim is to just stay safe in these difficult times. We hope that the situation improves soon,” says Marcus as quoted from Honda Racing Corporation.

“I am in Italy so we are in a very serious position here. The lockdown is very strict and I can only leave my house when I need to go to the supermarket. And I can only do that with special permission. It isn’t easy because being part of Team HRC we are used to travelling so much and being in different places and meeting people face to face. So now to just be at home and having to do everything from there is difficult to get used to. However, that is what we all need to do so we are making it work.”

Jut before the break, Tim Gajser had won two of the four motos so far and had a strong front on the brand new Honda CRF450RW. Mitch Evans, on the other hand, had injured his shoulder and was unlikely to be travelling to Argentina.

When asked about their conditions, Marcus managed to provide us with the details.

“Both riders are back at their respective homes, with Tim in Slovenia and Mitch in Australia. We made the decision for Mitch to go back there when the global situation got more serious and with his injury. We all thought that it would help his recovery to be back with his family. Tim usually stays in Slovenia anyway so it isn’t any different from usual there. He has his own house with a gym. So he is able to keep a fairly normal routine going and keep his fitness levels high and just keep active in this break in the schedule.”

“Right now, Mitch is just recovering from his shoulder dislocation that happened in Valkenswaard.  He had surgery a couple of days ago. But this break in the calendar is allowing him to recover without the feeling that he has to rush to be back, in order not to miss too many rounds.”

“That is always a difficult thing for riders because they always want to be out there racing. So it is good that he can recuperate without that pressure. We are keeping in regular contact and making sure he is doing the right things and exercising in another way. So that when he is able to get back on the bike, he still races fit.”

When asked about Team HRC’s plan for the season, Marcus says “All the races being postponed until later in the year. It means the schedule is going to be very busy at a time when normally we are coming to a close. The last race is now November 22. This is almost two months after the usual finishing date. So we have to make sure that everyone is in the right frame of mind. And that the riders are mentally and physically ready to still be racing at this time of year.”

“There are also periods where we have six races in a row when usually we only have three. So again, we need to make sure that everyone is able to cope with the change. It won’t be easy but I know that Team HRC is filled with extremely professional people and we will be able to get the job done.”

Considering that the team does not know what is going to happen exactly, it would be difficult for them to prepare.

“That is probably the toughest thing because the schedule has changed a lot these past few weeks. Every time we come up with a plan, a new update makes that plan redundant. It is frustrating but that is the position for a lot of things right now. Not just in motocross but all over the world in all different sports and industries. We just have to keep making sure that everyone is staying safe and that we are ready when the time comes.