MotoGP: Marquez uncorks a victory at Laguna Seca!

Was it Thomas Jefferson who said – “all men are created equal…” That might be true, but are all men/babies born equal? Can you recall media presence or a scrum of reporters, jostling for reserved spaces, with satellites strapped to their backs, wanting to be the first to beam news of your arrival to an impatient world? Jackass knew a lot – di world no level!

MotoGP

If all MotoGP records are held at a remote location, in a highly classified building, I am positive that each time Marc Marquez sits on his Repsol Honda, there is a distinct tremor, reverberating through the building as the records on file tremble with fear! Records are tumbling left, right and center and we are only half-way through the season.

On Saturday we got an unexpected gift. We struck gold – we were able to watch qualifying! The current format meant that riders did not have time to twiddle their thumbs, so it was full speed ahead from the get-go.

I was thankful, because unlike in a race scenario, when the riders are a tab bit more controlled and organized in their actions aboard their prototypes, we actually got the opportunity to see them riding on the ragged edge! It was spectacular.

Marquez

Marquez, after doing a blistering time, let it all hang out, but his machine decided to end the torture and ditched him. His time stood for a bit though until Bradl stole pole. But, at one stage during qualifying, while ‘pushing’, Marquez ran wide at the corkscrew. He recovered, but after Sunday’s thriller, I am forced to ask – Was it deliberate?

Much was expected from the race and much was delivered. Defending champion, Lorenzo and title hopeful Pedrosa, did what I had expected and rode through, what must have been, a massive pain barrier – but champions are as tough as nails!

When the grid got the go-signal, Bradl left the barrel like a bullet! He led at the end of lap 1 and appeared as if he had plans to make up for what was lost in Germany, where many thought he should have won. As the rhythm of the race developed, Bradl held P1, Rossi P2 and a hard-charging Marquez – P3.

Marquez did not ride the Laguna Seca track before last week, but I am certain he spent countless hours watching the videos and practiced using the games. His hero, Rossi, pulled a corkscrew classic to win the race a few years ago and as fate would have it, Marquez chased Rossi and pulled the same trick that made the ‘Doctor’ famous.  Marquez surprised Rossi. He pulled alongside the ‘Doctor’, on the outside, entering the corkscrew and completed the pass on the broken asphalt  on the descent! Is the student now better than the master? (click below)

Laguna Seca 2013 – Best Overtakes

The race was essentially over for me at that point. But Marquez was P1 bound. Marquez stalked Bradl and eventually blew by, almost effortlessly. Gentlemen, with lean angles up to 63 degrees, Marc Marquez uncorked another victory and has the MotoGP world on fire! Do I need to tell you that he still leads the championship?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer