Marquez Leading For The Win

Marc Marquez is the current leader in the MotoGP 2016 championship, leading 53 points ahead of Valentino Rossi. The reigning champion of 2015, Jorge Lorenzo, is behind by 59 points to Marquez.

The 23-year-old Spaniard has won the championship two times before in 2013 and 2014. Marquez is considered to be the youngest rider in recent history to have broken numerous records including fastest laps and back-to-back consecutive wins in one championship. However, like all sporting heroes, Marquez had to start at the beginning.

Marquez joining Repsol Honda KTM

Marquez was born in Cervera, Catalonia in Spain, and made his debut in 13 April 2008 at the 125cc 2008 Portuguese Grand Prix. He was just 15-years-old as the time and achieved his first podium on 22 June 2008 at the British Grand Prix. 

At the French Grand Prix in 2009, Marquez achieved his first pole position at a factory KTM rider and was the youngest Spanish rider to take a pole position or a podium in a motorcycle racing world championship.

His first win was on 6 June 2010 at Mugello, and following victories were at Silverstone, Assen and Catalonia and thus made Marquez the youngest rider to win four successive races. His fifth win in succession was at the Sachsenring making him the first rider since Valentino Rossi in 1997 to win successive races in 125cc racing.

In 2011 Marquez moved into the Moto2 class as the sole rider of the new team Monlau Competicion run by his manager, Emilio Alzamora.  

Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez - Repsol Honda teammates

In 2012 it was announced that Marquez had signed a two-year contract with the Repsol Honda team in the MotoGP class, replacing the retired Casey Stone alongside Dani Pedrosa as his teammate from 2013 onwards. 

Marquez has often been quoted saying that Rossi was his childhood sporting hero and inspired him to get into the sport. However, in 2015, the two friends soon became rivals. 

During a pre-event press conference at Sepang, Rossi said, “From Phillip Island, it’s clear that Jorge has a new fan.” The Italian rider accused Marquez of helping Lorenzo to beat his teammate. With Marquez sitting only a few centimeters away, Rossi continued speaking against his former friend. He elaborated saying, “Marc has played with us, doing everything in Lorenzo’s advantage… The Australian GP was really interesting, with many top riders fighting and 50 passes. But if the race was so hard fought, we need to ask Marc Marquez. He was playing with us a lot. His goal was helping Lorenzo to escape and take as many points as possible from me!”*

Marquez, visibly embarrassed replied “I did my race. I don’t know why Rossi is saying this. I did an incredible last lap. I can help my teammate, not Jorge Lorenzo.”*

Then onwards, during the Sepang, Malaysia race, a collision incident became the focus of attention when Rossi seemly kicked Marquez’s bike causing him to crash out of the race. Further investigations, however, confirmed that Marquez’s bike handle unfortunately clipped Rossi’s foot causing it to come off the peg. Nonetheless, Rossi received 3 penalty points which were enough to enforce a start from the back of the grid for the final race of the season in Valencia. The riders were warned of their behaviour but Lorenzo took the world title.

The break leading up to the 2016 championships was surely needed as racers came back calm and collected and their underlying stories seemed to fade away.

Meanwhile in South Africa, the reopening of the iconic Kyalami Racing Circuit represented the much needed impetus to economic growth in the area, particularly for tourism. The Sport and Recreation Minister of South Africa, Fikile Mbalula, said he felt positive about the Kyalami revival. “The restoration of Kyalami Racetrack is good for motorsport development and for motorsport in South Africa,” he told IgnitionLive. “We thank the private sector for their continued support for motorsport.” Perhaps the revival of Kyalami Racetrack is the necessary link to get MotoGP and other classes to consider the track as one of the circuits to visit during future championships. Mat Durrans, a co-host of The Bike Show addressed Toby Venter, the owner of the Kyalami track, saying, “Brilliant track, well done! You’ve probably not got any cash left, shame about that. But bring us some international racing!” The South African Bike Festival, hosted previously this year in May, featured various dealerships including Yamaha who displayed a replica of Valentina Rossi’s YZR-M1 Monster model. This event is said to draw in more tourists and recognition globally, possibly attracting the racers to South Africa.

Rossi and Marquez shake hands

Even though some friends become rivals, they say that a feud can’t last for long. This statement rang true at the end of an emotional Catalunya race in June dedicated to Luis Salom after his tragic death during a practice session.

It seems this helped bring a sense of perspective to the riders when Rossi and Marquez were seen shaking hands for the first time since 2015.

More than halfway through the championship already, fans of MotoGP eagerly anticipate what might happen next.

The next MotoGP race will be held at the Silverstone Circuit in Great Britain this Sunday, 4th of September.