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The site MotoGP.com took advantage of the presence of the quintuple Lewis Hamilton in the Petronas stand during the Qatar Grand Prix to ask him when his passion for 2 wheels began.

The Mercedes F1 driver responded: “When I was very young, before I started karting. I always wanted to race motorcycles, I rode motorcycles when I was a kid, but my dad always wanted to give me a kart, so…
I'm glad he did, but since then I've always wanted to ride motorcycles and that passion has never left me.
There is a big difference in the sense that in Formula 1 we don't have to worry too much about the safety aspects whereas they do a lot more with motorcycles.
When you ride a motorcycle, you're a lot free, it's a lot more dynamic, but in terms of understanding braking distances and lines, there's a lot in common between motorcycle drivers and car drivers.

I want it 100% [to ride a MotoGP], I'm going to do it, I'm working towards it. I only had two days with a motorcycle on a circuit. In fact, two years ago I spent a day somewhere in Spain, and it was on a rental motorbike. Then, I finally bought a motorcycle that I rode last December but only for 2 days. So I need more days because I only had two and a half days on one circuit. I would love to ride a MotoGP, it’s a dream! I watch MotoGP every weekend, even during my F1 Grand Prix weekends: I escape from my qualifying meetings to be able to watch the motorcycle qualifying…

I think it's a bit part of the nature of drivers to have exceptional natural talent here. I like the different categories and how the drivers turn out.

I'm so busy I can't come to many races. I have just been given my permanent pass. I now have a permanent pass, and I am very grateful for it, and I can now ask Petronas to let me ride their motorcycle whenever I want (laughs).”

Perhaps to verify the extent of this passion, and in any case his knowledge of the subject, Petronas then asked the reigning F1 world champion a few questions about MotoGP.

Franco Morbidelli was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2018: true or false?
“I think it’s true that he was Rookie of the Year” (TRUE)

How old was Fabio Quartararo when he made his World Championship debut? 
“I guess 19. 18?” » (False. Fabio Quartararo was 15 years old) " What ? 15 years? Wow! »

What are the four circuits that MotoGP and F1 have in common? 
“I think it’s Austin, Texas, Silverstone, Barcelona and Austria.” (TRUE)

In what year was MotoGP created? 
“I would imagine the first F1 race was around the same time, so I would say 55…53…48 (laughs)” (False, 1949)

How many night races are there in MotoGP? 
“I think MotoGP only has one race, to my knowledge” (TRUE)

The MotoGP speed record is 315 km/h: true or false?
“I would say that’s wrong because I think MotoGP is probably faster than that” (True, 356,4 km/h)

All articles on Teams: Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team