Watched race late last night. Haven't read thread. Initial thoughts:
To say Marc Marquez's performance was amazing is an understatement! But since there were no close passes, the master class performance often gets overlooked (Valencia anyone?). That is two times Marc has annihilated the field in tricky conditions, at Argentina the dirty wet-patchy track combined with the Mishitlins combined with 'almost impossible old habits' (more on this below); COTA wasn't much different, the track itself seemed to offer its own precarious complexity combined with a tire that is NOT predictable (indicated by the number of crashers in the last two rounds...old habits, which for mere mortal die hard). Sometimes the performance of the winner is overshadowed by the auxiliary story lines, given that Rossi went down and all the other crashes, Marc's performance (like Lorenzo's at Valencia) will be overshadowed. Possibly "boring". I appreciate the desire for dicing, but sometimes the individual performance is as awe inspiring. Marquez not only won the race wilst others crashed trying to achieve the same goal, but he was managing to set faster laps compared to those who 'pushed beyond the limit'. Pause for a moment to think about this, the guy who didn't crash was faster than the crashers. It's counter intuitive, but I remember Casey Stoner once explaining his crash on tricky tires, he explained the problem was he didn't push hard enough. Counterintuitive. Easier said than done, because surely it's not as simple as 'pushing harder' because those who crashed will tell you they 'pushed too much'. What Marquez is doing is going faster than that supposed 'limit'! What limit? The limit that caused a slower Lorenzo at Argentina and a slower Rossi in America to crash. Mind-boggling stuff. (For the record, I migs in the pre-season that Marquez might be out of contention this season, I was wrong.)
Jorge Lorenzo was exceptionally fast and consistent after his firs lap dash wilst being cautions, riding to the point he believed was his limit, which again puts Marc's performance into perspective. During the post-race press conference, Jorge reflected about his crash in Argentina and his ability to ride for a podium in America, it sounded like he alluded to 'old habits' in regards to his approach with the Michelins. He actually paused mid sentence, as if editing himself on the fly from uttering the name "Bridgestone" but if you listen to him talk, one could fill in the blank. It sounded like he meant to say, in Argentina I crashed because I made the mistake of pushing the Michelin tires like I used to do with the Bridgestones. 'Old habits die hard' (and I believe it was part of the problem for Iannone's crash, but more on that later). Lorenzo has a steep learning curve, and it seems he has made the adjustment. For the record, I don't believe Yamaha will support him in the later stages of the season, I believe this title is a write off, I believe Rossi's influence and the 'new' Yamaha culture will see to it. Racing in the European portion of the season in theory should shift the balance toward Lorenzo. Notwithstanding the effect of the Michelins.
Andrea Iannone has earned a bit of bad wrap, both from his own blunders and from a confluence of conditions, misjudgments and jumping to conclusions on our part and tires that have made racing for a podium a knife's edge proposition (I'm still fixing to write up why we are wrong to blame him solely for Argentina, if I could find the time). We had many fallers at COTA, indication that the tires are lacking predictability and quality, though I feel the track conditions during the race seemed to present another layer of complexity.
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The podium ambience was fantastic. All the riders moving around in that space free from a looming shadow of animosity or rancor. Frankly, they looked like kids having fun. No bitterness on display, no animus or discord. I'm not sure I detected much booing, but I'm told from a friend who was there that he detected some coming from a Yellow tinged crowd when they announced Lorenzo, though he was happy to report, it wasn't overwhelming. And, he added, if there were any booes for Marquez, he didn't hear them, as they might have been overpowered by cheers. I'd like to see the selfie the riders took on the podium. I'd like to caption it: 'The Absence of Venom'.
I'm not convinced Mavrick Vinalez is the next big thing but rather the next big name. It was fun to watch his on track exchange with Alex Espargaro, who by the way, doesn't get enough credit. But if Alex is to be so easily dismissed, well... Mavrick struggled to get by him. Yes, I'm aware they were on different tires, there is a message here isn't there? My migs is that Vinalez will become Rossi's teammate, by design (there is a message there too). Which leads me to another point, and that is this notion that Jorge Lorenzo is picking his teammate. First of all, Jorge has not employed this vetoing power to my knowledge in the past, as Marquez said recently he has never either, why are they suddenly going to change their principles? I don't see Ducati operating with the same principles as Yamaha on this point either. Contrasted, Rossi has vetoed a teammate, and there is no reason to believe he will change his "principles' either.
I'm not going to spend to much on Valentino Rossi's crash. It looked like a typical front end wash out in a high speed zone. In the feed he mentioned it had something to do with his clutch. However, his crash did have an impact on the proceedings; if any of you have the race recorded, if you watch it again, you will notice that the feed uncharacteristically provided significant screen coverage for the 'lesser' riders. It's as if all the time they dedicated obsessing over Rossi coverage ad nausium was used up in providing us with some screen time of those other riders that have dedicated their lives, risking life and limb, and often loot, to the sport we all love. Dumb .......s. It was refreshing. I see a parallel to the podium ambience. (Btw, for the record, I migsed that Rossi would not have any DNFs this season, I was wrong.)
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How many mirrors did Andrea Doviziosobreak? When I first saw it, I held my breath and an audible "oh ...." rang out. I thought for sure Dovi's leg was broken from the initial looks of it. Thank god he didn't get hurt, that would have been truly tragic. Just goes to show you how close these guys come to career ending injury or worse every time they take the track, which makes deliberately trying to harm another rider infinitely more egregious (so the logic goes in a normal universe). Dovi looked good for his third possible podium. We will never know if he could have battled for 2nd with Lorenzo or what might have happened with him and Pedrosa, but surely we missed out on something, what that was we will never know but I believe it would have been special. I said this after Argentina, if Ducati were in contention for a title (which I don't believe the machine is) this rash of bad luck has destroyed that prospect. I think Ducati will win a race this years, my migs is they will win at Mugello.
Which brings me to Dani Pedrosa. I was reminiscing with Arrabi the other day about the inaugural GP of Indy. I remember taking a picture with this girl wearing a "Pedrosa Sucks" t-shirt. Which at the time, I wholeheartedly believe (right or wrong) was both a funny and deserved jibe. Allow me to provide some context, as I'm sure there are perhaps some noobies that could use the history lesson. Dani Pedrosa torpedoed Nicky Hayden at the penultimate round of the 2006 season, not only his teammate, but his teammate that was on the cusp of a historic championship (at the Portuguese GP in Estoril, a topic that was touched on recently). But I want to take this opportunity to provide some context to contrast this infamous torpedo and the one that occurred at COTA. In addition, that infamous torpedo of Estoril should not be compared with Iannone taking Dovi out at the Argentine GP (more on this later someday). This is not only completely different, but the man who caused the crash in 2006 is not the same man of 2016. Ten years ago, I submit that Dani Pedrosa was under the influence and guidance of an awful man who was hell bent on ruthlessly smashing all obstacles, real or perceived; a dominating figure who highjacked his considerable influence and real connections within MotoGP's organization, including using the leverage of important marketing sponsorship dollars, employing this power to achieve his evil machinates, where the ends justified the means, and it mattered not how dastardly or mean spirited his 'climb to the top' was, even if climbing over people meant attempts at ruining the good name of rivals by accusations, including thwarting, foiling and obstructing a teammate in the garage. No, I'm not talking about Valentino Rossi, I'm talking about Alberto Puig, once manager and mentor, more akin to a dominatrix to Dani Pedrosa. The Torpedo of Estoril was one born from blind arrogance and self-entitlement, even the reaction after the incident can be contrasted to the one from Circuit of the Americas, where Pedrosa in 06 gesticulated in astounding conceit as if he was the victim, walking away from the incident transmitting an air of ....... contempt. It is no wonder why he was scorned, hated, and ridiculed. Forward ten years later, Pedrosa has been free from the wicked clutches of the evil influence of the vial Alberto Puig; the metamorphosis from a disgusting worm into a butterfly is a fitting metaphor for the new version of Dani Pedrosa. A more mature man aware of mortality and the importance of humility. That was on display at COTA when after the incident his immediate human reaction was to check on Dovizioso, once he saw the his fellow competitor was ok, he then picked up his bike after causing a horrifying crash and soldiered on in the race. Fitting that this type of human spirit we admire as a staple of competition and determination was on full display at Argentina by the same man he had just take out in America. Dani Pedrosa circulated on a damaged Honda, probably in some physical discomfort, until he determined the risk offset any knowledge gained from being on a hot track. When he returned to his garage, he expressed his commiseration to his own team, then took off his helmet and walked over to the Ducati garage with an expression of solace, humility, and consolation. The cameras tried to follow him into the garage, it is after all their job to capture all the significant events of the weekend, but the Ducati personnel, echoed in unison their team's principal principles, Gigi Dall'Igna made it clear the public intrusion was not to make a media circus in what should be a private moment (more on this later Lin Jarvis). I'm thankful we were still privy to a glimpse, we got to discern the moment. And what we could see of it was a genuine human exchange, an apology by a regretful man who made no attempt at making it into a narrative about himself. This was dully reciprocated by the man who had reason to be upset, Dovizioso expressed no ill will, no reservation for pride on display. Dani Pedrosa may be the smallest rider in the paddock, but he walked out of the Ducati garage 10 feet tall, by far the largest man of the day. My respects to the big fella, he has earned it!
