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Every now and then, sport is drenched in an unexpected storm. The cycle of familiarity is rudely broken by a cyclonic burst of freshness, leaving fans wet with excitement. MotoGP fans have witnessed the making of history this year, riding with a twenty year old boy-man who has burst on to the scene with a string of sensational performances. Like a leaf out of a fairy tale, he leapt into the collective consciousness of MotoGP fans with an irresistible season of racing that defied both pundits and punters with equal disregard.
Marc Marquez ended the season pretty much how he began – finishing third in Valencia, just as he had done in Doha in his maiden race in the premier class of grand prix motorcycle racing. As he eased past the finish line at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, a crowd of more than 100,000 mainly Spanish fans erupted into an unfettered celebration in honour of the youngest ever MotoGP champion.
Marc Marquez looks at times as if he is yet to transition from his boyhood. The infectious smile and an all too young visage betray the fact that the Catalonian has already collected titles in each of the three main grand prix classes – Moto3 (2010), Moto2 (2012) and the one among men this year. As a rookie, Marquez has skid off the charts with a performance that has left the racing world in awe of his prodigious abilities.
By making the podium in 16 of the 18 races this year, Marquez has set a standard which borders on the impossible. He could have made it 17, but his disqualification at Philip Island for failing to meet a last minute rule change about compulsory pit stops denied him a solid finish and delayed the inevitable. When Lorenzo won both the Australian and Malaysian grand prix, many wondered if the 20-year-old had the stomach to somehow try and shield his 13-point lead in the final race.
Any hopes of a nervous weekend were quickly dashed. The greenhorn fired himself to outshine the rest in practice, setting a scorching pace right through the practice sessions. Marquez rode the momentum to clinch pole position at the final race of the season. And even though he did not enjoy the best of starts, was more than happy to let the defending champion and his teammate fight each other rather than get involved in a potentially damaging battle.
Fortunately for the Spaniard, his 13 point cushion going into Valencia meant that he only needed to finish among the top four to earn the title. And he did just that to ink his name alongside Kenny Roberts, who was the last rookie to win the title, way back in 1978. The story of Marquez though cannot be narrated in numbers or in cold facts.
The unconventional riding style of Marquez – nearly scraping his elbow on the track, shifting his weight quickly from side to side to lean precariously into the curve and carve his bike through the slimmest of corridors, often dangling his leg loose has fascinated many an avid watcher. The growing band of fans getting high on the octane filled thrills of grand prix racing have been lifted to a new peak by the exuberance of the young Spaniard.
The aggressive streak in Marquez has added an intriguing layer of legend for the wet behind the ears racer who has shown scant respect for his seniors on the track. His moves, against both Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, have enthralled fans both for their bold conception and almost brash execution in a matter of seconds even as they fought for the slightest edge over his seasoned opponents.
The margins were narrow – Marquez turned champion on the matter of a meagre four points – and it is difficult to put a price on a move such as witnessed at the Lorenzo hairpin on the final lap at Jerez. The audacity of the young man left everyone gobsmacked as he literally stole the inside line from his closest rival and made it stick despite heavy contact with Lorenzo.
Another move that shall remain etched in the memories of MotoGP fans shall be that astounding pass at the Corkscrew in Laguna Seca. Marquez was riding with a great deal of aggression in trying to get past the battling seven time champion Valentino Rossi. As the riders entered the bend, Marquez realised he was too quick with his entry and far too close to Rossi and his bike.
As Marquez cut through the rumble strips and drove on to pass Rossi, many recollected the original move that was scripted by the great Italian over Casey Stoner in 2008. Marquez made Rossi pay along with interest. It was amply clear that the young man was riding the track and cared little for reputation or risk once he entered his riding zone each weekend.
The arrival of Marquez has served to provide much needed oxygen for an event that was fast turning into a boring spectacle. The 20-year-old has the world at his feet and a MotoGP title on his shelf. If he can keep his feet on the ground and retain his focus and energies on the battles that lay ahead, then we might have just seen the arrival of another serial champion.
