moto2 2012

As Tom mentions, these are all young racers still perfecting their trade. Marquez made bonehead ..... mistakes last year. He was also torpedoed at the beginning of last season. His reaction to the incident was that this is racing it is very unfortunate for it to have happened and that that mistake can be made by anyone including himself. Unfortunately the stars misaligned for him a couple races latter and he did the same to a fellow rider.



Lex- I don't think you mean this, but from what I read if seems as though if a rider has a great sponsor his wins and championships don't mean much. In your eyes. Soooo, would it have been better if Marquez, Pedrosa, Lorenzo, and now any of the Aspar kids rejected the lucrative sponsors and top teams so they had to work extra hard for success??? Last years 125 revelation Maveric Vinales must be on your next .... list, ehh Lex?? These guys all worked extra hard to get there. It wasn't penciled into their birth certificates.



Being in Spain I get a lot more coverage on riders in the daily news. There is also a much broader racing community where everyone knows each other or knows someone who is personal with someone. I've had the chance to run into Marquez and his family. They are not elitist, if anything they are humble proud and hard working folks.



Marquez and his team were extremely surprized at the outcome of the race. He hasn't been able to train on the bike all winter due to his double vision problem. His laptimes at Qatar in practice were not the best. As he always tries, he got himself into a competitive position and in the last laps went for it. Seems to me as some people have him crucified for trying to win.

Just watched the race. For race direction to say that Marquez could assume he was past Luthi is just ......... At NO stage had Marquez completely passed Luthi and there is no way that he was not visible in his peripheral vision. There was almost no speed differential that would allow Marquez to feel like he had blown past Luthi. Marquez made a dramatic change in direction and headed straight for the edge of the track leaving Luthi no where to go. In my opinion it was a deliberate move to run his main competitor for the championship off the track and out of the race. In my opinion it is a racers duty to allow racing room and Marquez left none.



When Race Direction fails to act in these incidents then it leaves the riders no choice but to take action out on the track. I would and next round given the opportunity I would be punting Marquez off the track at the first opportunity. If he is then injured I would clearly indicate in the media that if Race Direction fails to act and riders take revenge then the outcomes are the burden of Race Direction to bear.



As far as Marquez being an "Alien" I say ......... He has a weight and funding advantage that should see him winning races by 10's of seconds yet all we see is him battling out to the last lap and requiring dodgy moves to win.

Mental Anarchist said:

Just watched the race. For race direction to say that Marquez could assume he was past Luthi is just ......... At NO stage had Marquez completely passed Luthi and there is no way that he was not visible in his peripheral vision. There was almost no speed differential that would allow Marquez to feel like he had blown past Luthi. Marquez made a dramatic change in direction and headed straight for the edge of the track leaving Luthi no where to go. In my opinion it was a deliberate move to run his main competitor for the championship off the track and out of the race. In my opinion it is a racers duty to allow racing room and Marquez left none.



When Race Direction fails to act in these incidents then it leaves the riders no choice but to take action out on the track. I would and next round given the opportunity I would be punting Marquez off the track at the first opportunity. If he is then injured I would clearly indicate in the media that if Race Direction fails to act and riders take revenge then the outcomes are the burden of Race Direction to bear.



As far as Marquez being an "Alien" I say ......... He has a weight and funding advantage that should see him winning races by 10's of seconds yet all we see is him battling out to the last lap and requiring dodgy moves to win.

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No no, you don't get it.



Luthi should have looked through his rear view mirror and brake to be able to take an inside line ......Stupid Luthi.

baturro said:

Lex- I don't think you mean this, but from what I read if seems as though if a rider has a great sponsor his wins and championships don't mean much. In your eyes. Soooo, would it have been better if Marquez, Pedrosa, Lorenzo, and now any of the Aspar kids rejected the lucrative sponsors and top teams so they had to work extra hard for success??? Last years 125 revelation Maveric Vinales must be on your next .... list, ehh Lex?? These guys all worked extra hard to get there. It wasn't penciled into their birth certificates.

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I don't discount titles won by riders with major sponsors. I've said repeatedly that Repsol have secured the financial/technical means for Marquez to win a championship, thus, Marquez needs to win a championship without needlessly griefing the other riders. He doesn't seem capable, ATM, of accomplishing this meager directive (the griefing part) so people infer strange things from my posts as a way of defending him.



Just for the sake of argument, let's suppose I did discount championships won by rich teams. Why would you ask me if I believe foregoing sponsorship and backmarking with the also-rans on secondhand equipment is a viable solution for young riders? Do I think kids should give up opportunities so that I can take them more seriously? Is this supposed to be a meaningful hypothetical?



I'm not worried about Vinales b/c I don't care about the sponsors. I don't care about where Marquez came from or how hard he worked. Table is set for Marquez to feast, he throws food. He's not the first. He won't be the last. But I'm not impressed.

mylexicon said:

But I'm not impressed.

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No knowledgable and objective motogp fan can fail to be impressed with what Marc Marquez has achieved in the last 2 and a half years. You don't have to like him and you are more than welcome to question and critisize the mistakes he has made, but the position you are taking is clearly something else entirely. I can understand where you are coming from, but I will always disagree

If Marquez is not Alien material, care to explain how he won his last 125 race at Estoril?? Or can you give any examples or riders with the determination to do what he and his team did in this race?? Actually it wasn't only his team, as other mechanics from 125 teams came over and frantically wrenched on his bike.



This form of assistance isn't given by the COMPETITION if the rider is an arrogant daddy's money .... Actually, I've never heard of the competition lending a hand except for this occasion.



I'm finished with this till next race. Adios!!

Maquez is Alien, i never said otherwise.



A dirty & nutty alien at that.



Hasta la próxima.



(Don't take my last comment about rear view mirrors seriously)

Mental Anarchist said:

Just watched the race. For race direction to say that Marquez could assume he was past Luthi is just ......... At NO stage had Marquez completely passed Luthi and there is no way that he was not visible in his peripheral vision. There was almost no speed differential that would allow Marquez to feel like he had blown past Luthi. Marquez made a dramatic change in direction and headed straight for the edge of the track leaving Luthi no where to go. In my opinion it was a deliberate move to run his main competitor for the championship off the track and out of the race. In my opinion it is a racers duty to allow racing room and Marquez left none.

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There is no requirement for the rider in front to be completely past the rider behind for them to take right-of-way - the rider in front always takes precedence on the track and the video replay clearly shows that Marquez was ahead before they reached the corner.



I would just like to say that it was an unfortunate race scenario that I wish had not occurred, however, it did appear to be a legal if not sensible or sporting pass. I think that Lutti deserved at least second place for his stellar performance over the entire weekend.



I hope it won't get me flamed but I have to admire Marquez' pluckiness and skill especially in getting 3rd from the back of the grid at Phillip Island last season (albeit as a result of his own recklessness in practice session 1). I am glad he stayed back in Moto2 this season, as others have noted - he does have some growing up to do but I think all the hating on him cos he draws the attention of good sponsorship is a bit much - you don't get to be in that position by being average!

Mental Anarchist said:

When Race Direction fails to act in these incidents then it leaves the riders no choice but to take action out on the track. I would and next round given the opportunity I would be punting Marquez off the track at the first opportunity. If he is then injured I would clearly indicate in the media that if Race Direction fails to act and riders take revenge then the outcomes are the burden of Race Direction to bear.

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This opinion makes me glad that you are not a racer.

Mental Anarchist said:

As far as Marquez being an "Alien" I say ......... He has a weight and funding advantage that should see him winning races by 10's of seconds yet all we see is him battling out to the last lap and requiring dodgy moves to win.

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This just seems to be plain hating



Marquez' momentum up until his season ending crash last season (this time not his fault) suggested that he would likely win the championship (7 wins to Bradl's 4) so it would appear that he is getting the results that you say he should be.



Anyway, gotta love the close, exciting racing provided by Moto2 - seems to beat the GP hands down for entertainment value!

Marquez's run in the championship last year co-incided with his receiving an improved chassis that NO other Suter rider was allowed to have. When you have a equipment advantage over your competitors especially in a controlled formula such as Moto2 it is not JUST skill that allows you to win.



Why is offering an opinion that says he is not an alien and backing that up with reasons classified as 'hating'. Just pathetic in my view.



In racing there IS a requirement to leave racing room. Marquez DID NOT leave racing room when he could have easily done so and still taken the corner. He took away the racing room so Luthi had no option but to run of the track and therefore preventing him from fighting on the last lap.



If you raced against me and pulled that move on me and didn't expect to get punted next time then I would call you naive. I don't do PC.

Marquez is having a better bike and equipment with support from Repsol..I don't understand why his bike is much faster and can overtake others on straight line..Luthi we will wait for him next race and do the Marquez on the final lap too..

Matthew Birt ‏ @birtymotogp



Lorenzo and Stoner both said Marquez should have left Luthi more room after controversial Qatar Moto2 overtake

Mick D said:

Matthew Birt ‏ @birtymotogp



Lorenzo and Stoner both said Marquez should have left Luthi more room after controversial Qatar Moto2 overtake

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And I agree with both!

I still stand by my saying last year.

I think Marquez is dangerous!

And nothing since sepang has changed my opinion.

I hope I'm proved wrong and the rest of the season runs without any incedents.

And both Lorenzo and Stoner would have done the same thing in the same situation. It´s easy to be diplomatic when not in the situation and in hind sight.

baturro said:

And both Lorenzo and Stoner would have done the same thing in the same situation. It´s easy to be diplomatic when not in the situation and in hind sight.

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........ baturro. Not even in their 250 days.

I Lorenzo's 250 days, at Motegi, he came hot up the inside of Pedrosa, could't slow down fast enough and both went sliding into the kitty littler. It was at the hairpin just before the back downhill straight. Lorenzo received a penalty for this.



So your your right Mick, not the same, worse.

You're denser than I thought if you are trying to equate losing it under braking and premature use of another rider's space. Riding overly aggressively and losing it under braking and taking out another rider is stupid and dangerous but it is an unconscious part of racing. Marquez made a conscious decision to prematurely invade Luthi's space. Every other rider sees it as OK, but still a ....-head manoeuvre.

No need for name calling Mick, don't be a ..... Just shows lack of maturity on your part.



I'll argue Luthi made a conscious decision to instead of slowing down and following behind the INSIDE rider played chicken with a rider with more cojones and lost. You don't see it that way, fine Marquez can be the bad guy for you. None are bad guys for me, just racers that want the same piece of asphalt.

baturro said:

No need for name calling Mick, don't be a ..... Just shows lack of maturity on your part.



I'll argue Luthi made a conscious decision to instead of slowing down and following behind the INSIDE rider played chicken with a rider with more cojones and lost. You don't see it that way, fine Marquez can be the bad guy for you. None are bad guys for me, just racers that want the same piece of asphalt.

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Slightly off subject but what is your opinion on Marquez taking the flag at Sepang and continuing on a flying lap straight up the back end of Willarot?

Resulting in more injury in the long run to Marquez but put Ratthapark in hospital.

baturro said:

No need for name calling Mick, don't be a ..... Just shows lack of maturity on your part.



I'll argue Luthi made a conscious decision to instead of slowing down and following behind the INSIDE rider played chicken with a rider with more cojones and lost. You don't see it that way, fine Marquez can be the bad guy for you. None are bad guys for me, just racers that want the same piece of asphalt.

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Whom did I name call?



I'll agree to disagree, but I'm anxious to here your response to LRRP...

Be pretty hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't think Marquez was a fool at the Sepang practice last year. Don't understand your angst there Mick. It's a pretty clear cut Marquez your an overly exiced ..... move. He was in the midst of en epic comeback to almost take the Moto 2 championship, not an excuse but I'm sure it was a pretty big distraction, especially as in his first year in Moto 2 he didn't expect to be in that position.



Back to the present.



Marquez seems to be doing much better in the practice sessions now that he's had time to have a little bit of preseason. Should be hard to beat tomorrow.