by Fadhli Ishak from https://www.nst.com.my/
KUALA LUMPUR: MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli, who is used to scorching speeds around the world’s racing tracks, including Sepang, has slowed down to a stop — following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Morbidelli, a member of the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (SRT), has yet to twist a throttle this season.
The 2018 MotoGP rookie of the Year is now spending his time at home, under lockdown in Italy.
Instead of listening to the eardrum bursting roar of motorcycles’ engines, Morbidelli now tunes into soft music.
He is keeping himself occupied with a new hobby, playing musical instruments, while doing his best to remain physically fit.
“I am trying to stay in shape but without leaving my house. I can go running if I stay within the land boundaries of my household. I am doing that but not much more,” said Morbidelli.
“I have some musical instruments and I am trying to learn to play them. It’s not easy, I need to practise a lot. Maybe by the end of this thing (lockdown) I will be able to play the harmonica and cajon.”
Cajon is a box-shaped, percussive instrument which originated in Peru.
“We should try to enjoy the time that we now have at home and get the maximum from it. We can do things at home that we usually don’t have time to do.”
The MotoGP second, third and fourth rounds in Thailand, Argentina and the United States have been postponed to later this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
