—— Have you ever entered a state of "flow" while riding a MotoGP machine or a motorcycle?
If so, what was that experience like when you were in "flow"?

All: Yes, we have. Not so much recently, though.

Oliveira: When I’m in a state of flow, I don’t feel anything at all. It’s only after coming out of that state that I realize, "Ah—that was flow." While I’m riding, everything feels remarkably free of tension, and riding feels almost effortless. It’s as if the bike is an extension of myself.

Miller: When I’m in a state of flow, no matter where I brake or where I turn, everything naturally settles into the right position. The corners happen easily, the grip stays there—it’s a state where things just happen.

Rins: It’s incredibly exciting. Everything feels easy. It’s as if the view from the inside suddenly looks "simple"—the situation becomes clear, and I can naturally slip right into it.

—— When you’re in a state of flow, how do you perceive the other riders?

Miller: I have a general sense of where they are. In racing, your competitors are usually behind you, and you get at least one indication per lap as to where they are.
But when I’m in a state of flow, I can tell whether the gap is growing or shrinking. Even if I miss the pit board, somehow I still know.
Sometimes, even when no information comes through at all, I just know, "They’re probably around here right now—and I’m pulling away." And what I feel isn’t the gap decreasing, but actually growing.

Quartararo: Even through corners, there are times when I can tell where the other rider is just by the sound—whether they’re pulling away, or still in the same corner. This is especially noticeable in low-speed corners, where those cues are easier to pick up.

—— Do you ever sense the intentions or emotions of other riders?

Oliveira: No, I don’t feel anything like that.

Miller: To begin with, that way of thinking just isn’t there. It’s more like an already done kind of thing. You're not even thinking of their mindset or where they're at because you feel like you're so transfixed on what you are doing and where you are. In fact, it’s when I’m not in a state of flow that I start wondering things like, "How is the other rider doing right now?" or "Are their tires as bad as mine?"

Quartararo: In the end, I’m so focused on myself that I don’t really think about what others are doing.

—— How do you feel after a race in which you entered a state of flow?

Rins: When I’m able to get into a state of flow, I don’t feel tired. Even after the race is over, my body doesn’t feel exhausted at all. Races where I can’t enter flow don’t unfold as easily—they require more effort, and I have to push and motivate myself much harder.

Quartararo: After the race, I actually feel it more strongly—"That was flow."

Miller: It’s only after it’s over that I really feel it clearly, "That was good," "I didn’t struggle at all."
It feels like I can do no wrong. There’s no strain on my body, and above all, it’s an incredible feeling.

—— When you’re in a state of flow, how much control do you feel you have?

Oliveira: I feel like I have 100% control. The moment I think, "I’ll do this," I’m already turning or braking without even realizing it. The moment you think, "I’m going to brake later," you do it. And your body and mind adjust so easily to do what you need to do to not go wide, or you don’t finish in the gravel.
Everything happens very naturally. When I’m in a state of flow, it feels like I’m completely in control of the bike.

Miller: It feels like my body is three steps ahead of my thoughts. By the time I think about it, I’m already—

Oliveira: Already moving!

Quartararo: When I’m in a state of flow, it feels like the grip is truly "there".

Miller: When you’re not in a state of flow, you destroy your grips — you’re much tenser, and that is extremely noticeable. By contrast, when I think back to times when I was in flow, everything is so smooth that I almost wonder, "Am I even hanging on properly right now?"

Rins: But there’s always risk there as well. The boundary between flow and "overflow" is incredibly thin. If you relax even a little bit...

Quartararo: You crash.

Miller: Overflow means crashing.

Rins: That’s right.

—— Where do you think the difference—or the boundary—between flow and over-flow lies?

All: Overflow just happens.

Miller: It would be nice if you get a warning, but I think our brains don't give us that. Many times you will hear riders say, "I felt incredible and then all of a sudden, I crashed." That’s the state, everything's feeling too good, almost. When you're in that flow state, you're kind of trying to keep yourself in check, like, "Don't get too carried away." "Don't push too much." At the same time, you're kind of having this conversation with yourself, I think.

—— Are there any situations where it’s easier for you to enter a state of flow?

Miller: It’s not just about the bike—many elements come together, including the flow of the race itself and the overall situation. There’s no such thing as an "easy race", but when everything builds up in the right way, there are moments when I can enter that state. When those elements don’t align, it’s hard to find that feeling. That said, in the end, I think the biggest factor is still the bike.

Oliveira: Physical condition matters too. Even if the bike is perfect, it’s hard to enter a state of flow if you have a fever, for example.

—— When you’re in a state of flow, does your field of vision become wider, or narrower?

Rins: When you're in the flow, you have time to see everything, like you are watching a TV, a big screen.

Oliveira: Yeah, I get that.

Miller: You notice rocks on curbs and little stones on the track and stuff like that, stuff that you wouldn't really pick out. You're all focused, but then you aren't at the same time, if you know what I mean.

—— Finally, have you ever experienced a state of flow outside of racing?

All: Yeah, definitely.

Oliveira: It might actually happen more often outside of racing. It may be closer to "over-flow", but there are times when I’m driving with the intention of going home, and before I realize it, I’m on a completely different road. I’ll think, "Why did I come this way?"

Miller: That feeling of not being consciously aware of where you’re going—I experience that too when I’m behind the wheel.

Quartararo: For me, it’s running. There are times when I realize I’m running at a faster pace than I expected—and it feels great. In those moments, it feels like I’m in a state of flow.

Rins: For me, it’s when I’m doing trails back home. As I’m going uphill, looking at the rocks and terrain, once I enter flow, I can move forward without hesitation—everything flows naturally, you just go.

—— That concludes our questions. Thank you very much for sharing such valuable insights.

At Yamaha Motor, we will continue our Human Research initiative with the aim of one day delivering products that allow anyone to experience flow like a top rider.