MotoGP: No easy road for Marquez in 2015!

There is absolutely no doubt, in the informed mind, that Marc Marquez is a phenom. He is a mutant, a being that is possibly visiting from another galaxy, an advisor to Optimus Prime, a superhero, who has a reserved spot in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! I could expound further, but I will retain the discourse for another session.

Marc Marquez, like an active volcano, exploded on the MotoGP stage in 2013 and the paddock is still in recovery mode! I am almost certain that the scribes have discarded their writing/typing/recording implements! It is indeed an exhausting task to rewrite the myriad records he shattered as he visited each magnificent MotoGP track.

Marquez didn’t rise slowly to stardom – he was released from an impatient cannon! Propelled by a ferocious Repsol Honda, he swept the grid clean of opposition and ascended to the only significant position – P1! In a rather dramatic fashion he relegated former champions and potential rivals, including his teammate, the lightning-fast, Dani Pedrosa, to minnows – also ran – jostling for the ‘what lef’!

Marc Marquez went on an all-continents tour, spreading his message of Physics-defying lean-angles and scintillating mastery of the rambunctious beast – a MotoGP machine! Tales will be told in a Roman coliseum setting about his accomplishments and elders will smile as they reflect on Marc’s first two years in MotoGP.

But, that was then. The reigning World Champion’s exploits were not well received in some quarters. And in the 2014 off-season, brilliant minds met to conceptualize a plan. Pre-season testing gave us the first opportunity to witness the execution of the plans. But, it is also known that testing is a game of chess which the top teams excel at. So the astute usually reserve comments for the minute after the season-opener ends!

We are currently ankle-deep in the season but the writing is on the fairings! After 3 Rounds of MotoGP Raw, I do not think Just Bet could have conceived the odds for what we are witnessing! The reigning World Champion, the ‘wunderkid’ who belittled mega-stars in 2013 and secured a MotoGP title on his first attempt, is clinging to an insignificant rung on the points-standing ladder ! Marc Marquez occupies the before-now, never heard off, in the same sentence with his name – P5!

Ducati Team has been the eye-opener of the season thus far. The 2015 Ducati will thunder by opponents on any extensive stretch of asphalt – it has a gazelle’s speed in a turtle race! Ducati riders sit in P2 and P3.

Movistar Yamaha’s kingpin, Valentino ‘The Doctor’ Rossi, like a river, is rejuvenated ! The 36 year old reminds me of the long, white-bearded ‘fox’ in the Kung Fu movies ! The smarter, wiser, route is chosen at all times, designed to deliver fatal consequences to the adversary. 2015 has given birth to an inspired Rossi,who has forced comments of “unbelievable ” from his teammate, Lorenzo, who struggled where Rossi excelled in Argentina.’The Doctor’ is busy dismembering the competition! He sits with a massive grin, clad in a Diego Maradona shirt – P1!

So, if anyone was of the view that the 2015 season will be another walk in the park for Marquez, I would advise that a conversation be had with the riders at Ducati Team and Movistar Yamaha. There is no easy road ahead for Marquez in 2015! He will be at home, Spain, for the next Round. Any predictions?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer