“I CUT, WELD, FABRICATE. IT’S JUST ME, NOBODY ELSE”

In 2008, a 10-year-old kid saw something on the internet that he thought was cool, so went and found his dad. With a genuine tone in his voice, the kid pointed to the screen and said to his old man: “I want to build this, dad.” So it was off to the hardware store where they purchased the timbers and bits and pieces to build a large, oversized and somewhat ridiculous piece of garden furniture in the shape of a huge chair.

Fourteen years later, it still sits pride of place in the garden and for the reigning Moto2 world champion represents so much more than a big chair. Because while Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro finds his escape from the pressures of high-profile motorsport through classical piano, and Red Bull KTM rider Miguel Oliveira by firming up his post-racing