Livio Loi was happy to return to the Jerez circuit and his Moto3 bike on Thursday afternoon, after trying his hand at bullfighting during a Dorna organised press event ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.

Loi joined fellow Grand Prix stars Aleix Espargaro, Alvaro Bautista, Takaaki Nakagami, Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Alex Rins on a visit to Finca Fuente Rey, an estate that belongs to Fermin Bohórquez, a prestigious Spanish breeder of fighting bulls and a mounted bullfighter himself.

During the event the riders were shown by Spain’s number one bullfighter David Fandila “El Fandi” how to cape with a one-year old heifer.

The riders were invited to try their hand in the ring and it was a very nervous looking Loi who stepped forward with the cape. One pass from the young bull was enough to have the 16-year-old Belgian running for cover!

“It was an interesting experience, but also quite a scary one,” declared Loi. “I think I’ll stick to racing bikes, as I’d rather face a grid full of Moto3 riders every weekend than get back in the ring with that bull! It was only a year old and around 120kg in weight, but those horns looked big enough to do some damage when you’re staring at them from the other side of a cape. One pass was enough for me!”

Loi will make his Moto3 debut this morning in Jerez, when he takes to the track for the opening free practice session ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.