Euro Moto presenter Danijel Peric: “Most – or the ultimate test of endurance”

Most – or rather, the endurance test. I’d say it was a sort of analogy for our sport. Pushing hard to the limit and right on the edge, just like the men and women who were able to showcase their skills out there on their machines, but under very demanding conditions. Having watched how mechanics, spectators and the technical equipment struggled without any outside help, I’d like to expressly praise all the riders and express something that was certainly not in short supply: RESPECT.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to extend that respect to the Czech marshals, because out there it simply wasn’t a walk in the park. Eight litres of water a day wasn’t a rarity, but a necessary standard. SPF 50 wasn’t actually enough, which brings me to the question of just how hot it really was. We recorded 36, 39 and 41 degrees over the three days, and the asphalt reached a merciless 70.1 degrees at its peak – measured once by me personally, if you can trust the infrared device. Either way, it makes no difference. For me, these were the hottest working conditions I’ve ever experienced, and I admit I was absolutely delighted that I didn’t have to ride.

This is where we ALL step out of our comfort zone.

Danijel Peric

I didn’t have any thoughts of running away, though, because I really love my job and my team, and the work is still fun even in these conditions – even if your own sweat was running down your back. The nice thing about a weekend like this is that even the TV coverage becomes a bit more human and authentic, as real life inevitably comes through. So the odd viewer might well forgive the beads of sweat on our faces or, in the case of the ladies, the smudged mascara.

For me personally, riding a motorbike in such conditions also makes sense because we’re talking about competition. We’re talking about the top German class, about perhaps the strongest riders in almost every class that have ever existed, and as many of them regularly compete on the big international stage of the WSBK or EWC, we’re talking about professionals who, even under such conditions, have to put themselves and their machines to the test. To be honest, it’s precisely these conditions that foster growth. This is where we ALL step out of our comfort zones; this is where we realise where the going is still tough and that my rival has trained and prepared a little harder after all. The ambition to one day be able to compete alongside the big names in Australia, Suzuka or Malaysia is experienced, analysed and assessed in moments like these.

Most ensured the same conditions for everyone; even when it came to ‘black gold’, Pirelli set a standard and everyone had the identical slick tyres fitted – where the level of parity was probably closer than ever before. We saw that the conditions took their toll, but I think it was all within reasonable limits, and everyone coped with it brilliantly.