Michale Dunlop has described the opening days of the Isle of Man TT as the "most dangerous part of motorsport".
The hugely popular event returns in 2022 following two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Like any road race, the TT's 37.8-mile Mountain course is laced with danger, with riders lapping around the marathon circuit at average speeds of 135mph.
Read more: Michael Dunlop opens up on his 'love of road racing' despite family tragedies
Dunlop - a 19-time TT winner - says competitors will have to re-familiarise themselves with the circuit following an enforced break.
He told the Isle of Man TT's official website: "You're just building that confidence over the practice days.
"I always say, see the first two or three days of TT practice, it is the most dangerous part of motorsport, ever.
"We have had two years' off, and we're getting back to 'does the road go right? Does the road go left? Where are we at?'.
"But when you take-off you're soon flat to the board. You're soon hitting 180mph.
"You just have to get into that feeling of this is what we did three years ago, so it will be sound.
"So it will take a minute or two to get back into things and where you're going."
Dunlop admits there is no other experience like the TT, presenting riders with unique conditions they rarely encounter during the race calendar.
"There are a lot of factors in play. You don't experience anything like the TT," he added.
"You're going to be going round and there will be 2,000 flies on your visor. You have to re-adapt to all that crap again. You don't get that anywhere else.
"People say things like 'I am watching 18,000 on-board videos' and 'I know where I'm going'.
"You could watch someone going to Crosby 100 times on TV, but will you end up on the exact same spot as the rider in the video?
"Will you be on the exact same motorbike he's on? Have you got the same talent he's got? This is marginal stuff.
"Yes, you can get an understanding of going left or right, but that's about it.
"You'll never be in the same spot as that person, not a chance. And you will never be on the same line twice. You will be on the same part of the road, but never on the same line twice.
"So it will be interesting."
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