He's often seen emerging from the gravel after the most violent MotoGP crashes. Since 2012, Dr. Angel Charte has become one of the most respected figures in the paddock, to the point that many riders consider him their guardian angel. But the MotoGP medical director champions a belief that goes far beyond traumatology: for him, mental health is just as important as physical health.
At a time when pilots compete up to 44 racing per season including Grand Prix and Sprint races, taking intercontinental flights and living under constant media pressure, his message resonates particularly strongly.
In an interview with Sports world, Angel Charter He explains that confidence is one of the fundamental pillars of a high-level athlete's health. According to him, a doctor today can no longer simply treat physical injuries. family, emotional or professional difficulties directly influence the performance and well-being of the pilots.
« Self-confidence, personal dissatisfaction, and the ability to eliminate collateral factors Family, emotional, and professional aspects are all factors that mental health professionals must consider. »
This approach perfectly illustrates the evolution of modern MotoGP. The riders are no longer simply daredevils capable of pushing the limits of physics. They have become complete athletes whose mental preparation is as sophisticated as their physical training.
Angel Charter: " The secret is to sleep as much as possible. »
There are plenty of recent examples in the paddock. George Martin travaille depuis plusieurs années avec un psychologist and regularly mentions the importance of this support in his personal and athletic development. Marc Marquez had to rebuild his mental strength after his terrible accident in Jerez in 2020 and the years of suffering that followed. fabio quartararo he himself acknowledged having gone through particularly difficult periods in the face of declining performance Yamaha .
MotoGP is therefore no longer immune to the problems faced by all high-level sports today. Dr. Charte is convinced that certain cognitive or psychological disorders now require specific therapeutic protocols. We will continue to work because we believe in it, and that is very important to us, especially for stability.. »
The other lesson from his interview concerns a well-known enemy of pilots: the jet lagThe world championship now crosses Europe, Asia, America and Oceania in just a few weeks. A real physiological challenge for athletes who must immediately regain reflexes capable of reacting in milliseconds at speeds exceeding 350 km/h.
Dr.'s recipe charter Yet it is remarkably simple: "The secret is to sleep as much as possible.""There's no miracle method or sophisticated treatment. For the MotoGP doctor, sleep remains the most effective weapon for physical and mental recovery."
His latest message undoubtedly deserves to be remembered far beyond the paddock. Physical rest is important, but mental rest is just as important."This sentence probably sums up the most spectacular evolution of motorcycle sport in recent years. Whereas the riders of yesteryear strung together races and trips without any real specific preparation, those of today must manage their sleep, their diet, their mental workload, their psychological recovery and their business obligations with the same rigor as their sporting training.
The man who tends to the wounded riders after the most violent MotoGP crashes is a stark reminder of a truth that elite sport has long neglected: you don't just repair a body. You also heal a mind. And in an increasingly demanding championship, this dimension could well become one of the defining factors for the champions of tomorrow.
