Perhaps the most stressful moment for a driver engaged in motorsports competition is undoubtedly the start. The tight group and the very high risk of being involved in an accident make it as delicate as it is heart-stopping, which is another reason why the moments just before it become crucial.
Most of the time on the grid we see the drivers in silence, looking for the right concentration to be able to take off as fast as possible and maybe recuperate a few positions, but it's also not uncommon to see them listening to what their crew chief has to tell them.
When it comes to this, in an interview with Crashent, Paul Trevathan, Pedro Acosta's shadow, wanted to reveal what he actually says to Pedro, what he suggests to KTM's Spanish rider in those moments of great tension.
"We do a checklist, ranging from simple procedures before the warm-up lap, to the actual start. This is after we've already established the plan for the race and what needs to be done technically during it. On the grid, you experience an intense moment, but it's based on something you've already done," he explained.
The most relevant element for the crew chief is making his presence felt. "It's helpful to let them know that they aren't alone. At the end of the day, these guys have to get out on the track twenty-two times a year and prove how good they are. They have to show it to the world, but they're also there for themselves and, if they have a bad day, it's not good to be in their place, with the media to deal with just after the event... and all that can bring you down. People forget how difficult this sport is," he concluded.
If for the Iberian Shark the chatter before the lights go out is about reassurance and checking that everything is clear, it's different for others. As Joan Mir confessed, he and Santi Hernandez talk about something else in the minutes before the start. "Usually, the topic is other people's tire choice or possible last-minute changes," the Honda HRC rider stated.