Corentin Foucaut-Flickr
MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle sport globally. It is the F1 of two wheels and as such attracts only the best of the best. It’s a sport where mediocrity fades quickly whilst both failure and glory can last for generations. As unforgiving as it is spectacular, it is where motorcycle racers and couch riders alike aspire to be. It is a place where titanic battles play out between legends of the sport on the extreme edge of human existence, all striving for their place in history. But, at the end of each and every year, it all comes down to the famous line from the movie “Highlander”…”there can be only one…” At the moment the “one” is the boyish faced Spaniard Marc Marquez.
Dubbed “The Smiling Assassin” by many, Marquez is renowned for his blinding speed, brave (and perhaps sometimes overly risky) passing manoeuvres and never say die attitude, which seem to be counter-balanced by his bright upbeat demeanour in the paddock. Universally liked and respected, this current MotoGP Champion is a revelation to the sport and is breaking every record along the way to his own very special place in the history books. During his rookie year in 2013, he became the youngest ever rider to win at the highest level at only 20 years and 266 days (beating quirky American legend “Fast” Freddie Spencer by several months). The Cervera native also rewrote the record books for youngest ever pole qualifier and race winner along the way, and equalling Rossi, Stoner and Lorenzo for the most podium finishes in one year (16). He also became only the second rider in history to win in the premier class in his rookie season, equalling “King” Kenny Roberts amazing feat way back in 1978.
So far in 2014 he has been unstoppable. Of the six races this season he has qualified on pole and won every race. He has almost buried the career of teammate and fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, drawn uncharacteristic errors from Jorge “the robot” Lorenzo and left an aging super-hero in the form of Valentino Rossi in his wake. So dominant and convincing are his performances that many in the motorcycling world or beginning to wonder IF it will end rather than WHEN. Having seen many of the legends come and go I’m absolutely certain it will happen…but you won’t find me placing bets it will be anytime soon. MotoGP may once have been “Lorenzo’s Land”, but it is now most definitely “Marquez’s World”…
Steve Brouggy is a Writer for CouchRiderReport.net. Follow him on Facebook