Marquez - One To Watch?
Discussion
He looks like he should be revising his GCSE's:
Yet this lad has won 9 races this season, and during qualifying is usually 0.50 seconds faster than the rest of the field (which, in the tiddler class, is akin to half a lap).
Consider today's race at Estoril. The weather conditions were changeable at the start and due to monsoon conditions the grid was decided on free practice times. This meant Marquez starting 11th on the grid, and by lap 3 was challenging for the lead. Mid-race it was red-flagged due to rain. So the teams consider their options, and Marc's crew decide - with the prevailing weather - to send him out on slicks.
On the sighting lap, Marc crashes and limps back to the pit with damaged bodywork. Cue all the mechanics working feverishly on the bike to repair the bodywork and check the mechanicals. All of the work is - seemingly - for nought as the pit lane is closed before Marquez can re-join the grid. So now Marc has to start from the back of the grid.
The race re-starts.
Marc goes from 17th to 5th at the first corner.
During the race, his pit board says, "P3 OK". In other words, "keep it steady". But no.
After a two part race, and crashing his bike, in damp conditions, Marquez wins.
Yet this lad has won 9 races this season, and during qualifying is usually 0.50 seconds faster than the rest of the field (which, in the tiddler class, is akin to half a lap).
Consider today's race at Estoril. The weather conditions were changeable at the start and due to monsoon conditions the grid was decided on free practice times. This meant Marquez starting 11th on the grid, and by lap 3 was challenging for the lead. Mid-race it was red-flagged due to rain. So the teams consider their options, and Marc's crew decide - with the prevailing weather - to send him out on slicks.
On the sighting lap, Marc crashes and limps back to the pit with damaged bodywork. Cue all the mechanics working feverishly on the bike to repair the bodywork and check the mechanicals. All of the work is - seemingly - for nought as the pit lane is closed before Marquez can re-join the grid. So now Marc has to start from the back of the grid.
The race re-starts.
Marc goes from 17th to 5th at the first corner.
During the race, his pit board says, "P3 OK". In other words, "keep it steady". But no.
After a two part race, and crashing his bike, in damp conditions, Marquez wins.
The obvious star but can anyone answer why Bradley Smith's bike is always so slow on the straights? Is it his riding style, a poor engine or is he twice the weight of the others?
Seems he always does pretty well despite having to play catch up round the corners for what he loses down the straights.
Seems he always does pretty well despite having to play catch up round the corners for what he loses down the straights.
I think Bradley outgrew the 125s about 15 months ago. His section times are always right up there, and he's gotten poles on the more technical tracks, but the size and weight really show up on the straights. As he recently pointed out, he's fastest in wet conditions most of the time, as horsepower doesn't matter as much as technique.
He's going to be great in Moto2 next year.
He's going to be great in Moto2 next year.
One other thing I noticed during the post-race interviews was Marc's grasp of English, compared to Nico Terol.
Now, Terol - for the last 7 or 8 years - has been nothing more than mid-grid mediocrity, which suggests that his management team never considered English being a language worth learning as he was rarely going to be interviewed post race.
Compare with 17 year old Marc who has a bloody good grasp of English for such a young Spaniard. Which suggests that his management team know that he's going to be in a good number of post race interviews in the future.
I, for one, think he will. I mean, yesterday was the first time I can recall seeing a 125cc bike getting sideways on the power out of a corner. Just an ikkle bit sideways. But sideways nonetheless.
Now, Terol - for the last 7 or 8 years - has been nothing more than mid-grid mediocrity, which suggests that his management team never considered English being a language worth learning as he was rarely going to be interviewed post race.
Compare with 17 year old Marc who has a bloody good grasp of English for such a young Spaniard. Which suggests that his management team know that he's going to be in a good number of post race interviews in the future.
I, for one, think he will. I mean, yesterday was the first time I can recall seeing a 125cc bike getting sideways on the power out of a corner. Just an ikkle bit sideways. But sideways nonetheless.
What an amazing rider this kid is, I doubt il ever forget this race for the amazing turn around from crashing to scraping on the last lap when a podium would have been fine! Hes so fast but yet most of the time looks in control and if its amazing that with all the wins hes had this year that he hasnt wrapped up the title already!
Saying that though he did make me laugh at Donington last year when he crashed at Foggy's throwing one hell a tantrum as he stormed off!
A short but good interiew with Marquez's team boss
http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Article...
Saying that though he did make me laugh at Donington last year when he crashed at Foggy's throwing one hell a tantrum as he stormed off!
A short but good interiew with Marquez's team boss
http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Article...
It's interesting that Marc's mentor is Emilio Alzamora.
Back in 1999 (??) he won the 125cc Rider's Championship by 1 point. He crashed heavily at Philip Island, re-mounted, and eventually finished 15th. That 1 point won him the 125cc Crown.
Maybe Emilio has fostered that "every point counts" attitude into Marquez?
Back in 1999 (??) he won the 125cc Rider's Championship by 1 point. He crashed heavily at Philip Island, re-mounted, and eventually finished 15th. That 1 point won him the 125cc Crown.
Maybe Emilio has fostered that "every point counts" attitude into Marquez?
amare32 said:
Didn't people call Pedrosa the next 'chosen one' a few years ago expecting him to dominate once he graduated onto the premier class? He hasn't exactly fulfilled his potential yet.
Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
Yeh, I was going to mention Pedrosa as both him and Marquez are tiny. It's ok chucking a 125 about, but with motogp going back up to 1000cc they might find their size a hindrance in future.Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
edit:
to be fair to Dani though, I'm not sure he's had a championship winning bike yet in motogp, apart from when he was new to the class on a 990.
Edited by ludicrous speed on Wednesday 3rd November 13:24
ludicrous speed said:
Yeh, I was going to mention Pedrosa as both him and Marquez are tiny. It's ok chucking a 125 about, but with motogp going back up to 1000cc they might find their size a hindrance in future.
Yebbut, Dani rides around his lack of "bulk" by getting the bike upright out of a corner as soon as possible, on to the fat part of the tyre. Less rider weight dictates more grip from the rear is required much earlier. Think Garry McCoy.Actually, think also Loris Capirossi. He's not much bigger than Dani yet had no problem hurling a 990cc Duke around a track and winning races.
ludicrous speed said:
amare32 said:
Didn't people call Pedrosa the next 'chosen one' a few years ago expecting him to dominate once he graduated onto the premier class? He hasn't exactly fulfilled his potential yet.
Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
Yeh, I was going to mention Pedrosa as both him and Marquez are tiny. It's ok chucking a 125 about, but with motogp going back up to 1000cc they might find their size a hindrance in future.Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
edit:
to be fair to Dani though, I'm not sure he's had a championship winning bike yet in motogp, apart from when he was new to the class on a 990.
Edited by ludicrous speed on Wednesday 3rd November 13:24
oh yeah, that pedrosa dude.
IMHO, Pedrosa is SERIOUSLY over rated. marquez could be the real deal if his management get him down mcdonalds every night for the next 6 months, as for smith, its pretty well known he hasnt had the full support of the team this year, like giving him a faulty carb that they wouldnt give to terol, for the first 3 races until everyone in the paddock realised what was going on and they had to buy him a new one, cost, 6k!
Bradley will fly next year in Moto2, i enjoy watching all the bradders bashers over on biker banter, and im sure bradders is using all sorts of negative press about himself to egg himself on for next season.
Castrol Craig said:
ludicrous speed said:
amare32 said:
Didn't people call Pedrosa the next 'chosen one' a few years ago expecting him to dominate once he graduated onto the premier class? He hasn't exactly fulfilled his potential yet.
Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
Yeh, I was going to mention Pedrosa as both him and Marquez are tiny. It's ok chucking a 125 about, but with motogp going back up to 1000cc they might find their size a hindrance in future.Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
edit:
to be fair to Dani though, I'm not sure he's had a championship winning bike yet in motogp, apart from when he was new to the class on a 990.
Edited by ludicrous speed on Wednesday 3rd November 13:24
oh yeah, that pedrosa dude.
IMHO, Pedrosa is SERIOUSLY over rated. marquez could be the real deal if his management get him down mcdonalds every night for the next 6 months, as for smith, its pretty well known he hasnt had the full support of the team this year, like giving him a faulty carb that they wouldnt give to terol, for the first 3 races until everyone in the paddock realised what was going on and they had to buy him a new one, cost, 6k!
Bradley will fly next year in Moto2, i enjoy watching all the bradders bashers over on biker banter, and im sure bradders is using all sorts of negative press about himself to egg himself on for next season.
He is not over rated, he is up there with the best of them, but as i said, apart from that first year, he has not had a bike capable of winning the championship.
ludicrous speed said:
Castrol Craig said:
ludicrous speed said:
amare32 said:
Didn't people call Pedrosa the next 'chosen one' a few years ago expecting him to dominate once he graduated onto the premier class? He hasn't exactly fulfilled his potential yet.
Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
Yeh, I was going to mention Pedrosa as both him and Marquez are tiny. It's ok chucking a 125 about, but with motogp going back up to 1000cc they might find their size a hindrance in future.Same thing could happen to Marquez. I wouldn't get too excited yet.
edit:
to be fair to Dani though, I'm not sure he's had a championship winning bike yet in motogp, apart from when he was new to the class on a 990.
Edited by ludicrous speed on Wednesday 3rd November 13:24
oh yeah, that pedrosa dude.
IMHO, Pedrosa is SERIOUSLY over rated. marquez could be the real deal if his management get him down mcdonalds every night for the next 6 months, as for smith, its pretty well known he hasnt had the full support of the team this year, like giving him a faulty carb that they wouldnt give to terol, for the first 3 races until everyone in the paddock realised what was going on and they had to buy him a new one, cost, 6k!
Bradley will fly next year in Moto2, i enjoy watching all the bradders bashers over on biker banter, and im sure bradders is using all sorts of negative press about himself to egg himself on for next season.
He is not over rated, he is up there with the best of them, but as i said, apart from that first year, he has not had a bike capable of winning the championship.
ill say this, put randy de puniet on the same bike and he would wipe the floor with pedrobot, and give spies or simoncelli the chances that he has had and they would have produced results by now.
as for the bike never being good enough, not true, its pedro's injuries that have stopped him more than the bike.
I have to say that marquez should be winning everything in sight, he only weighs about 10lbs. As for pedrosa, i wouldnt so much say that he is overrated, but he sure as s
t isnt living up to the hype that his manager alberto puig is dishing out. Next year could be a make or break year for him as far as honda goes, lets be honest, with the fastest bike out there this year, he has consistently underperfomed imho
t isnt living up to the hype that his manager alberto puig is dishing out. Next year could be a make or break year for him as far as honda goes, lets be honest, with the fastest bike out there this year, he has consistently underperfomed imhoForums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff