Good morning to all,
I am Luca Airò, marketing manager at Lazzaro Spallanzani Medical Centre in Reggio Emilia and Piccole Figlie Hospital in Parma. I was a guest of Lifenet Healthcare and Aprilia Racing, who as of this year have partnered to provide medical and physiotherapy support to the official Aprilia team for all races of the 2023 MotoGP season. I am very excited to share my experience during the first leg, which took place in Portimao, Portugal, from 24 to 26 March.
Lifenet specialists in the Aprilia paddock
The collaboration between Lifenet and Aprilia includes the presence, at each round of the world championship, of a doctor and a physiotherapist with their diagnostic equipment. These will be at the disposal of every member of the team and not just the riders, as the aim is to guarantee maximum psychophysical wellbeing for everyone involved in the competition. This is a perfect example of how the worlds of sport and health can come together to create a healthy and safe working environment.
During the race weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with the doctor, Dr. Franco Perona, and the physiotherapist Fabio Careddu, both of whom are very professional and competent. It was great to see how they already are an integral part of the Aprilia Racing team and how the various members of the team, from the telemetrician to the cook or the track engineer, have already understood the importance of having them at their disposal and seek them out for medical advice and physiotherapy treatment whenever they are needed.
I found out that the specialists will not only treat injuries, but also prevent them. I n fact, during the championship, they will follow the team members by providing them with an eating plan in cooperation with those who manage and prepare meals for the team and their guests. They will also provide stretching exercises and other activities to keep their bodies fit and prevent injuries.
The race weekend at Portimao
I had the chance to see the official Aprilia team at work and I was impressed by their passion and dedication to the world of racing and how everything is organised and perfectly synchronised with the various moments of the race weekend. I was able to witness the preparation of the bike before the race and I saw how every member of the team has an important role to play to ensure the success of the team as a whole.
Finally, I have to admit that the highlight of my weekend was watching the race live in the pit box with the team members; I could feel the tension in the team throughout the race which melted away and turned into happiness and hugs at the end, with a wild run to under the podium to celebrate the success of Maverick Vinales who with his second place repaid all the hard work of the weekend. It was incredible to see the bikes whizzing around the track, to hear the roar of the engines and the excitement of the fans. It was a unique experience that I will never forget.
