When BMW Motorrad works rider Scott Redding isn't on his official BMW M 1000 RR, he can usually be found on a bike, whether at the circuits themselves or in Britain where he lives. But what, for many riders, is just a way to stay in shape, is for the Briton a real passion that he also uses to reach the limits on his bike.
Explanations…
Scott Redding has a real interest in cycling, well beyond a simple means of recognizing a circuit or keeping in shape. This passion extends to competing in cycling races in England when time permits, and even owning his own professional racing team, the SCRT Muc-Off, SCRT being short for Scott Redding Cycling Team.
According to the Briton, cycling is not only ideal for working on your physical fitness, but also your mind. Thus, on a physical level, beyond the form, the bike influences the weight of the BMW rider: “I cycle a lot to keep my weight down. I weigh three kilos less now than at the start of the season. This is all because I cycled and burned more calories than I took in. Generally speaking, it's good for my health and I benefit from it. »
However, this is only one positive effect among others. In addition to contributing to one's physical fitness, cycling racing also gives one Scott Redding a lot of mental strength for his WorldSBK races. “When I ride a bike, I push myself to the limit”, did he declare. “When I go into a race now and I struggle with the bike, the tire slips and I start to get tired, I know I still have a lot to give. In cycling races, I exert so much effort that I almost have no energy left. You don't really reach that level of exhaustion in motorcycle racing, so I always know my energy level is high enough to finish the race and fight to the finish. »
There are many similarities between cycling and motorcycling racing, so cycling racing is perfect preparation for racing skills. Scott Redding agrees : “In Superbike, you have to think about saving tires. In a cycle race, I have to think about preserving my legs. You also need a racing machine to overtake. So in my opinion it's very similar. »
obviously, Scott Redding always has his racing bike with him, even at WorldSBK racing events he can always be found in his truck. When it comes to final preparations for the race weekend, he uses his bike for the Track Walk: “It allows me to identify bumps, available paths, what the asphalt looks like, for example if there are different types of asphalt, and if maybe I should take a different path to avoid some bumps on Track. »
At the WorldSBK meeting at Donington Park (GBR), Redding, his SRCT Muc-Off team and the team support car provided by BMW all took to the track together. They were accompanied by Global Cycling Network. They were there to make a documentary highlighting the parallels between bicycle racing and motorcycle racing in which Scott Redding details his fascination with this sport.
