OFFICIAL PROGRAMME team have an expectation of the role for you , as well as the rider does .” Bentley and his fellow assistants fulfil a number of tasks , most not easily noticed from the outside . A lot of people do not realise how much goes into looking after a rider at this level . When they already have a ton of media things to do .” Things are pretty organised in modern-day high level racing like WorldSBK , as Simon explains about his latest role with Michael van der Mark . “ You get a daily schedule off the team , where they expect the rider to be and at what time , what he has to wear ,” said Simon . “ You take all the unnecessary things out of their head , which obviously leaves them more time to concentrate on finding the fine differences they have to at that level of competition .” Michael van der Mark is a rider he has known for a long time , even though they just started together this season in their new roles - him as factory BMW rider and Simon his Rider Assistant . “ I have known Michael for years , and when I say years I mean going back to his STK600 days . My team was always racing against him until he moved up out of Supersport and then he started his Superbike career . But I had always been really good friends with him . Same thing with Leon really - I knew him before - and I think that is a big thing when you do an assistant ’ s job for a rider . It is kind of a little bit intrusive . If you didn ’ t know someone the rider might not ask you something - because they didn ’ t think they would be able to ask you if you did not have that camaraderie thing going on .” Bentley says the job is getting more complex , not less . “ The obvious thing you can see is preparing all their equipment , you are there for them on the grid , and they have their own little routines . Modern riding equipment … there is lot more tech in them , air bags that need charging and checking and changing . Obviously also keeping things presentable , making sure the riders are hydrated , make sure they get a recovery drink and get enough hydration every day . Sometimes it is also silly little things like ‘ would you be able to take these tickets down to the car park for me ?’ Things like that . The more time you can take out of them the more they can spend time with the crew chief . And on the longer journeys you can be picking up hire cars or checking luggage in . They do not need any stress .” All this rider care looks like pampering or elitism for its own sake from outside , but the rise of the rider assistant role is also about making sure the rider can do the job he feels he is only there for in many cases - riding the bike to win . The reality is all top riders still need meet all the other roles and responsibilities that go with the job . Almost , almost a good riders ’ assistant is always getting the rider to do what he or she had to do but without causing any delays , stress or bumps in the routine as they do to . Rider ‘ wrangling ’, as much as following the riders ’ s requests ? Maybe that is a step too far . The rider is the boss and the Rider ’ s Assistant is not , of course , but it appears that whatever the rider needs most is somebody who is there when they are needed , making their potentially stressful weekends go like clockwork . In other words , someone who is dependable
29