OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
LEON HASLAM : Eva will be 10 this year and Max just turned 8 .
“ I think I have been very lucky in the fact that I was six weeks old travelling the world with my dad . As a family unit - not just my mum and dad , my sisters and me , understands racing and loves racing . It is not a job , it is a 24 / 7 thing . So having kids of my own and bringing them into that environment , and having people around me to understand what that involves … it is not a normal job . It is a way of life and I am very lucky because my wife Oli kinda takes care of a lot of that stuff . I get to be as present and as involved as I can be , which in a lot of situations in relationships is not normally that easy . And I feel very privileged that I have been able to have the experience and take them to a lot of the events , which has been nice . My mum and dad have been there to help . I can go away on three or four week training camps and racing all the time but I know with the environment that are in ; they are happy .
“ It is hard being away but I can do it in a way that I know they are good and happy and I can concentrate on what I need to .”
They also know that I get to spend as much time as I possibly can with them . It is hard being away but I can do it in a way that I know they are good and happy and I can concentrate on what I need to . When they were very young , in the winters , when I was trying to feed them , I remember turning up to the gym every morning at seven in the morning very tired some of the time - because I had been up all through the night . As they get a little bit older that gets easier and over the years things change . They have allowed me to do me and have the best shot possible at racing . Having that structure in place is key for a rider . You cannot be a 24 / 7 full-time on-theball Dad . You have got commitments . That structure is key to making all that work and if you can then you are providing the best life possible for that situation . The kids have got the normal structure of school , but for me every day is the same . If I am at home I will be training during the day anyway , so you have to pro-active to make time for when they are available , that is for sure . I have been having conversations with Sam and Alex Lowes . We always train together and do winter programmes . We always used to train from seven until 10 , but with Alex having twins coming and Sam with his little girl as well , we are looking at doing a structure in training where we can potentially take the kids to school in the morning . And start training at 09.30 . Obviously , things do get adapted but I feel that from my point of view I can still dedicate my time and make the most of the time we do get . More quality time when we do get it .”
Leon Haslam
EXCITING CONTENT
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