XM: There is obviously a lot of physical training that goes into being fully prepared for racing, but also on the mental side you need to have laser focus. How do you keep both in check?
MT: I do a lot of training, five to six times a week and sometimes it’ s a bit too much but I love to stay fit and also see how much I can push my fitness levels. I do a lot of high intensity interval training as well as strength and core. I also eat super healthy but I do enjoy my weekend cheats! I’ m a brand ambassador for Fitness First Middle East and they help with my fitness goals …. so I can’ t slack off! I love cycling too and I do enjoy that on weekends and whenever I can. As for mental strength, racing is the best training but I also like old style martial arts and far eastern culture ways of thinking and preparing for fights, like warriors and samurai. I try to educate myself in their ways when it comes to my mental abilities.
XM: Tell us a little bit about your new gig with OSN providing the commentary for MotoGP.
MT: It’ s a great opportunity to reach out to the racing fans in the region and beyond! OSN signed a five year deal with Dorna for the MotoGP and WorldSBK rights and they needed someone to do the Arabic commentary. I got introduced to them through On-side Sports who manage my commercial rights and it just took off from there. I’ m enjoying it a lot at the moment. I am a bit of a geek when it comes to some technical information within MotoGP and I think that’ s what OSN was looking for, plus the fact that I race myself makes it a lot easier to understand what’ s happening behind the scenes. I’ m looking forward to see where this takes us in the future.
XM: Away from racing, what are your other hobbies?
MT: Fitness and training, cycling and I like listening to music. I’ d like to give triathlons a go sometime! Maybe after I retire from racing as I barely have time for anything now!
XM: Any secret talents people don’ t know about?
MT: I draw and sketch, it runs in the family and I used to do portraits a long time back but I took it to the professional side with illustrations as I do it often in my daily job as an Architect …. I do enjoy having a go at some healthy cooking from time to time but I’ m a rookie at that! Boiled eggs anyone?
XM: What drives you?
MT: Just the fact that I’ d like to reach the maximum that I can in a sport that I love, I don’ t believe in limits, I have a strong belief in the power of mind and what it can achieve with a fit body. My motivation is my hunger to be better … all the time!
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