Grand Prix racing has always been a game of ups and downs (and I don’t mean the crashing variety). One year a team will be up and the next year they will be down. Those with long memories will recall the appalling title defence of Wayne Gardner in 1988 when he went from being nearly unbeatable to being an embarrassing also-ran in the space of just a few months.
Now, of course, it was no fault of Gardner. Rather it was just another example of how manufacturers, and Honda in particular, just cannot leave a good thing alone. And this swings and roundabouts scenario is being played out this year for the defending world champion, Marc Marquez. From two crushing title victories in a row, he is suddenly reduced to struggling to even get on the front row and is crashing out of races in an attempt to push the bike faster than it wants to go. What has gone wrong?
Well, two factors have combined at just the wrong time (for him). Firstly, Honda have decided to improve Marquez’s title-winning bike and, just like 1988 all over again, the “improvements” have been disastrous. Responding, no doubt, to the threat of what the new Yamaha would be like with the (finally) installed seamless gearbox, they decided that the bike needed to be better but they have gone in entirely the opposite direction to what they should have. Whereas MM93 was comfortable with a bike that is “loose” and likes to be flung around, they have made a bike that is “tight” and which doesn’t suit his riding style at all.
Yamaha have made the anticipated leap in performance that the seamless gearbox always promised and they are reaping the reward. Rossi, with his decades of experience, has brought all his guile to the table and maximised the advantage that the new bike has brought. Lorenzo struggled at the start of the season but, amazingly the two Yamaha riders go into this weekend’s meeting leading the championship in the first two positions and Marquez languishing more than one race win off the pace. It isn’t a write-off for the Honda man but it’s going to be tough.
On another subject, the works Suzukis occupy 1 and 2 on the grid for tonight’s race. I have never made a secret of the fact that I believe Suzuki’s GP efforts have been under-funded and under-done. I have also said that, unless they were prepared to address these issues, the current effort would be just as disappointing. Well, I am happy to note that those issues appear to have been addressed. I am also pleased to see them placing their faith in two young riders; expect to hear a great deal more from Espargaro and Vinales. Those who were decrying their decision to sign for Suzuki might yet end up eating their words.
The swing is firmly swinging a different way than it has done for the last few seasons. Honda had better wake up or they will feel it hitting them in the backside. 🙂
jeffb says
Good comments (as always), Phil. I would like to think the Suzuki can be competitive over a race distance, but I doubt it. Their qualifying pace is magnified by the use of an almost qualifying type tyre (as Ducati had past 2 years). I don’t think their race tyre will allow them to be in top 6 positions. Still, it’s great progress nevertheless.
Jeff
Phil Hall says
And, totally unsurprisingly, your prediction was completely correct!
RickG says
In 1988 Wayne Gardner won 4 Grands Prix (2nd highest season of his career), starting off the season with back to back second placings, far from being “an embarrassing also-ran in the space of just a few months”. As difficult as the bike was to ride he only missed out on 4 wins in a row when an engine bolt let go while leading by 2 sec on the final lap at Paul Ricard. Had he have won that race instead of Lawson the momentum would have been firmly with Wayne and he likely would have defended the title he deserved so much. Ultimately he missed out by less than one race win. I’m pretty sure that MotoCourse ranked him the number 1 rider that year. Allowing for the corrected points system in ’88 he scored the second highest tally of his career. Not bad for “an embarrassing also-ran”.
Phil Hall says
No disrespect to Wayne, he’s been a friend since he started road racing. Perhaps I should have chose KR Jr’s title defence in 2001? 🙂