Autosport.com editor Simon Strang samples Ducati's MotoGP two-seater, taking a ride around Jerez with former MotoGP racer turned television commentator Randy Mamola

The panic, an unavoidable side effect of excess adrenaline, has already set in. The mind is in momentary shut down and it feels as though a giant iron claw has clenched my ribcage with enough pressure to prevent my diaphragm from activating the lungs.

The messages my eyes are sending my brain have triggered a reflex response and the core muscles have tensed so that for perhaps as little as 0.7 seconds, my body is not mine to control.

To continue reading this feature...

You must have an AUTOSPORT subscription. Prices start from just $1.43 per week and give you full unrestriced access to all PLUS features. View package options? Magazine subscriber?

Online subscription

from just

$1.43

per week

• Unrestricted access to all PLUS features
• View website in ad-free environment
• Full F1 stats since 1950 in FORIX

View all package options