Over the last few years I haven’t watched as much racing as I used to and it has nothing to do with losing interest. The encroachment of Pay per View into TV has meant that, unless you pay, you don’t get to see any of the World Superbike/Supersport races and none of the Moto2 and Moto3 races. The big race is always saturated with advertisements (always at the very worst time in the race) and voice-overed by inane commentary that can easily spoil the enjoyment. Add to this the time zone hassles and it’s all getting to be a bit much (or a bit too little, actually)
Yes, I know I can subscribe to MotoGp.com and see all the races, and yes, I know I can get Foxtel (had it for years and junked it a couple of years ago as the quality went down while the price was going up) Both of these alternatives involve money which I simply don’t have, so I sort of feel marginalised. And that is why my commentary on the seasons which has traditionally been an integral part of my blog has been reduced to almost nothing. I have no intention of commenting in detail on races that I simply haven’t seen.
So yesterday gave me the opportunity to redress the balance somewhat. I had a heap of things to do in the morning but I did make sure that I got so see the main race and I am sure glad that I did. Having watched road racing since 1976, you can imagine that I have seen some pretty special races (indeed, I have documented many of them on this site) but I would have to say that yesterday’s MotoGp race was certainly the best MotoGp race that I have ever seen and goes close to being the best race that I have ever seen, period.
Constant lead changes, dead seagulls, impossible passing and a race complexion that changed by the moment not just by the lap kept my heart pounding and me on the edge of my seat for the whole race distance. While the pack scrapped, it looks like Lorenzo was going to do his run and hide routine but, despite constantly swapping places (and paint) the next 5 actually caught him up, something that is counter-intuitive in racing usually. The phenomenal speed on the straight of the Ducati allowed it one of the few opportunities that it gets during the season to counteract its indifferent handling and Iannone was the star of the show. His stunning pass of both Marquez AND Rossi in one hit at MG was impossible, but he pulled it off.
Rossi again struggled with an indifferent qualifying performance and only superb riding enabled him to progress forward. In the end, though, he had to use up too much tyre getting to the front pack and it hurt him late in the race when that little bit of tyre conservation could have been vital.
Lorenzo was ambushed in a clinical way on the last lap as Marquez stormed through a gap that was only just there and took the win, setting the fastest lap of the race while doing so (how CAN you do that on shagged tyres?) Lorenzo made no excuses in parc ferme admitting that he had no answer.
“Crazy Joe” got P3 after the ride of his life, surviving clobbering a seagull in T10 early and pulling off “that” pass. Now, if they can just get the thing to handle.
Marquez? What can you say? Out of contention for the championship he brought his “A” game (he always does) and he showed them how it was done. The front end issues of the Honda are still there but his “ride it as if there isn’t a problem” style either results in a trip to the kitty litter or a spectacular win. Don’t expect him to change, Honda has to change the bike. A vintage MM93 performance proving that you should NEVER count a champion out.
Rossi about a second back in 4th, finished as close as he could but, crucially, he ceded 8 points to Lorenzo with only two races to go. He SHOULD win the title (though the thought of the myriad of Rossi fanbois crowing about it will be very hard to take) but he is no certainty.
Pedrosa again disappointed. Dani showed yet again why he has never won a title and never will. 5 seconds off the leader after winning last weekend is simply not good enough. The Suzukis were outstanding on a track that should not have suited the supposedly underpowered bike. Vinales only a second behind Rossi is pretty special.
Was it the Race of the Year? Well, unless Sepang or Valencia can produce something better (I doubt it) then, yes, most certainly so. Race of the Decade? Quite possibly. I sat down afterwards and, once my pulse rate had gotten back to normal, I had a think and I can’t remember anything since 2005 that comes close.
History will record Marquez, Lorenzo, Ianonne, Rossi. Interesting unless you actually happened to see it. In ten years time, most people who saw it will not only be able to tell you the results without Googling but will also be able to tell you all of the important details of the race, so good it was.
Roll on Sepang.
