The coronavirus pandemic has Ukraine firmly in its grip as well. As is the case almost everywhere, public life has been largely brought to a standstill. The government in Kyiv has imposed a curfew on people over the age of 60. Ilya Mikhalchik, the two-time IDM Superbike 1000 champion from Team EGS-alpha Racing-Van Zon-BMW, also lives in the Ukrainian capital. What’s the 23-year-old up to these days? We asked him.
How are you coping with the COVID-19 crisis?
“Nothing is the same as it used to be. I’m not meeting up with my friends and I’m staying away from the city. My training routine isn’t what I’m used to anymore. I only do a few training sessions a week just to get some exercise. Most of the time, I sit at home and keep up with what’s going on in the world. Or I work on things that have nothing to do with motorsports.”
Has your region been severely affected by COVID-19?
"Where I live, there are the most cases of the disease, since it's the city center and also the center of Ukraine. But overall, it's a difficult situation. We don't know exactly how many cases there really are."
Do you have any family members or friends who are sick? Or are you sick yourself?
"No, and I'm very grateful that no one in my immediate circle has been affected—and neither have I."
How do you protect yourself?
"I eat healthy and take plenty of vitamins. I avoid close contact with others. I haven't shut myself away, but I'm being careful."
How are you spending your day? Are you working out?
"As I said before, I've scaled back my training a bit. I'm not training every day like I usually do, but only two or three days a week. I'm spending more time at home with my family now, which I can't usually do during the season."
Are you in touch with other IDM riders?
“No. I have a few friends among the riders in other championships, and I’ve talked to them. But I hope everyone in the IDM is healthy and preparing well for the first race of the season, whenever that may be.”
Is there anywhere you can ride a motorcycle?
“Unfortunately, our own track is closed too. But there are still a few small practice tracks where you’re not allowed to go too fast. They’re nothing special, but I can go there sometimes to do a few laps. My normal training routine will start up again once I know exactly when things will resume. I’m in good shape and will ramp up my training again in time. Until then, I’ll just relax a bit, too.”