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SBK<br />
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daily basis to reach peak fitness<br />
and hopefully gain an advantage<br />
over their rivals. We spoke about<br />
it amongst the soft media types<br />
in Portimao and agreed that top<br />
level professional athletes have<br />
something special that the rest<br />
of us don’t have. It’s not just the<br />
given talent they have for their<br />
chosen sport but it’s an ability to<br />
hurt themselves, endure physical<br />
pain, to make themselves stronger<br />
and fitter.<br />
Then there is the downside of<br />
motorcycle racing that we don’t<br />
see. I did a photoshoot with<br />
Supersport rider Jules Cluzel in<br />
Portimao. He is currently walking<br />
with the aid of a crutch after<br />
surgery on his ankle to break it<br />
and reset it. It turns out he broke<br />
it in a crash three years ago and<br />
it never set properly. He has been<br />
in constant pain ever since, all<br />
day, every day, and yet he still<br />
manages to race a motorbike and<br />
win at the highest level. It got too<br />
much for him last year and after<br />
his crash in Qatar he decided<br />
it was time to get it properly<br />
repaired, as much for his long<br />
term quality of life as well as his<br />
performance.<br />
Like most I guess, I never knew<br />
any of that and I was stunned.<br />
What a herculean effort to keep<br />
racing at that level and it is just<br />
another example of that little<br />
extra piece of the jigsaw that<br />
these guys have that makes them<br />
amongst the best.<br />
I am not going to complain about<br />
being cold or wet ever again,<br />
doing one of the best jobs in the<br />
world. I even feel a little bit embarrassed<br />
at this point to moan<br />
that I am a bit tired!
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