Multiple MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez and multiple F1 winner Daniel Ricciardo both swapped the track for the sea in a high-speed sailing race in Barcelona with the MotoGP team. America's Cup Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
Ahead of this weekend's Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, Alinghi Red Bull Racing has invited two stars from their respective disciplines, both of whom are linked to the energy drink brand, to host a special event.
In addition to having had the chance to sail on the Swiss challenger's two AC40 yachts, the two pilots competed against each other at the America's Cup venue (October 22 to 27). Ricciardo and Márquez were able to feel the adrenaline provided by these machines which reach nearly 90 km/h. It was ultimately the Australian rider who took the upper hand, beating the Catalan MotoGP champion on his home turf.
An event which was a good opportunity for the two drivers to compare this type of competition with the motor sports in which they excel.
“The speed is completely different, underlines the Gresini Racing driver. Maybe in kilometers per hour it's slower, but the feeling of speed is very strong. When you're in it, you don't feel like you're flying. But when I saw Daniel's boat flying by, I realized it was.
For me, the most impressive thing is the coordination required inside the boat, adds Marquez. I especially wondered how they learned and understood what they had to do. It was actually very difficult to feel what was happening inside the boat, because as soon as you fly, everything is very fluid. You have to be very precise. In MotoGP, because if you make a mistake, you crash. But here in a race, I guess if you make a small mistake, you lose speed very quickly, and then it takes a long time to get that speed back. »
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And Daniel Ricciardo adds. “The way these boats are built and their structure is very similar to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. They are very sensitive to wind, so the aerodynamics also have common points. It's very similar to what we do, with small movements and everything has to be done with a lot of finesse.
You never know what to expect when you have an experience like this, but I had a lot of fun, He continues. It was great for us to spend time together and do something like this with Alinghi Red Bull Racing. I wish the team all the best for the America's Cup. This is going to be awesome. »
Swiss team skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis was tasked with getting both athletes up to speed before the AC40s came out and seemed quite pleased with the performances of his two apprentices. “ Daniel took my place on the boat and followed all my instructions as I sent them from the chase boat. Marc Marquez and Daniel Ricciardo were thrown into the deep end today, and they adapted very quickly. Overall it was a very challenging day on the water with these guys. I'm a big fan of Formula 1 and MotoGP, so it's an honor for me to show these two riders around our base. »
