MotoGP: Marc Marquez continues to surprise and excel
Last updated on .From the section MotoGP
It's half-term report time in MotoGP and new boy Marc Marquez just has to have an A+.
This kid is extraordinary. I don't think I've ever seen anyone like him in grand prix racing after his
He had never been to Laguna Seca before this weekend, and ended the first practice session in third spot. That was when in the desert - and he went from strength to strength.
Normally when these riders come up against a new track they take it steady for the first few sessions as they get to grips with the challenges. Bradley Smith - another rookie this year - came out earlier in the year to have a few days around the Laguna Seca circuit on a road bike.
But Marquez doesn't seem to worry about it. He just turns up and blasts everyone.
His rivals must be wondering what on earth they are dealing with now. Everyone expected him to be fast in his first year, everyone expected him to win the odd race or two.
But nobody thought he would have a 16-point lead at the top of the standings halfway through the season.
You have to consider him as a serious title contender now which for a rookie is just remarkable.
He is past the dangerous part of the season for him. He understands the bike now, the tyres, and the tracks and I can only see him getting stronger.
I expected him to crash a lot - and he has had his fair share - but instead it's Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa who head into the halfway point of the season licking their wounds.
The two favourites for the title both rode very well this weekend considering the fact that they were recovering from injuries. They didn't drop away in the second half of the race as we expected and it was a gutsy effort from both.
They'll be fitter and stronger when we return to the United States in a month's time.
But everyone will be talking about one moment - Marquez's move on Valentino Rossi which was wonderful.
Marquez passed Rossi going into the famous 'Corkscrew' downhill corner in a carbon copy of Rossi's own move on Casey Stoner at the same corner in 2008.
This is a kid who grew up with posters of Rossi on his wall and now he is beating him, and beating him by emulating his own famous overtaking moves.
Valentino must have been thinking that he would teach the youngster a lesson when he braked late into the corner, forcing Marquez wide as he tried to overtake. But Marquez just chucked it in anyway, pushing them both off the track and on to the grass. It was a great moment in what was otherwise a fairly quiet race.
All the rumours around the paddock this weekend are that Stefan Bradl is being kicked out of his LCR Honda team, with Cal Crutchlow potentially taking his place. So it was ironic that the two riders had such different weekends.
Crutchlow struggled - which is not like him this season - while Bradl had the weekend of his MotoGP career, becoming the first German to take pole position and then collecting his first ever podium finish. He could not have done more at the right time.
Cal didn't have a particularly good qualifying, he struggled with a crash and his bike, and the race just didn't happen for him. It was probably my fault after He will be back though and a win is out there for him.
We also had some sad news in the motorcycling world as we woke in America to hear about the death of Andrea Antonelli - who was killed in an accident during the World Supersport race in Moscow earlier on Sunday.
It's tragic news which affected a lot of people in the paddock who knew him and it was a reminder yet again of the dangers of the sport we love. Thankfully these occasions are reasonably rare but it is the reality.
Steve was talking to BBC Sport's Tom Rostance
Comments
Join the conversation
Marc's "into the gravel, down the hill, round the manhole" pass was incredible.
2008 He crashed after that pass, would not shake Rossi hand and had the team manager lodge a protest to have him disqualified.
Rossi, laughs it off and they shake hands etc Marc Marquez is a breath of fresh air into the sport and is a future champion of that there is no doubt.
I find it difficult to understand why Lorenzo and Pedrosa dont get the respect they deserve, just because they might not go for a risky move it does make them less of a rider. You have to admit it would be boring without them.
Yeah, I thought that as well about the corkscrew pass. Although it would have been harsh to penalise Marquez in this instance, he did effectively cut a corner and gain an advantage by doing so. Having said that, I'm surprised the lad can even sit on the bike with the size of those cojones between his legs. A star in the making.
I've never backed Cal Crutchlow to win a race before and I hope I haven't put the kibosh on things but I really do think he'll do it this weekend at Laguna Seca.
He is riding superbly, he knows the track while Marc Marquez doesn't, the top two riders are nursing injuries while he has proven consistently that he can beat Valentino Rossi
Oh well Steve. LOL
Outrageous move from a rookie who had never raced at Laguna before. Moto GP lost its excitement when Super Sic departed. Marquez is bringing it back. Rossi bought us the dangling leg, Marc is bringing the elbow sliders.
Fair play to the lad, he's exceded expectations, ok helped by Lorenzo's and Pedrosa's injuries, but you can only beat what's in front of you and he's doing the business.
Well done to VR too, I thought he'd struggle to win a race this year and he's done that, great reaction to "go for" Marc at the end of the race too.
The 2008 Laguna Seca was a prime example. you could see from the way he was riding that he was not "very 'appy" with Rossi's move
Lost him the win, but honest.
I didn't want Marquez to thrash my heroes in his rookie season, but my respect for him grows and grows. If the Stoner rumours are correct, he'll look like Schumacher because Marquez will thrash him, especially with a season's experience.
I have just perused the Moto GP Rules and Reg's re passing off track.
It would appear that the only mention is under rule 1.21
Behaviour During Practice and Race.
Riders should use only the track and the pit
lane. However, if a rider
accidentally leaves the track then he may rejoin it at the place
indicated by the officials or at a place which does not ..
I echo comments about Super Sic ( RIP), if he was still racing as well - what a championship we would have this season:
Rossi, Simoncelli, Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa, Marquez !!!!!!
However, Marquez has firmly got his feet under the table now and Pedrosa (barring injury) is at or near the top of his game. Would Stoner be happy on the LCR bike? Even with full factory support?
How about waiting a year and entering WSB with Rossi?