But which of our two main title rivals will
prevail?
Perhaps I should stop “watching”, err listening
to MotoGP races, Eh?
Since the previous two times – prior to the
Emilia Romagna GP, when I’ve sat down to “watch”, Err listen to thy Telie, my
current Numero Uno rider thee Martinator’, nee Jorge Martin has crashed out!
Although He didn’t crash at the first San Marino GP. His botched Scooter’ gamble
effectively rained upon His championship aspirations!
As it had been a previous two months since I’d
caught the few, crucial moments when Martin crashed out whilst leading at Der
Sachenring, Sheisa! And hadn’t watched any MotoGP action until the San Marino
Grand Prix on September 8th. Where all of the pre Sprint race blather was about
Ye Pinball Wizard, ergo Marc Marquez having won His first race in 1,043 days at
the preceding round at Aragon!
Not having won a Grand Prix since the 2021
Grand Prix of the Americas at Austin Wayback’ on October 3, 2021, prior to
Marquez breaking His right arm!
Then ironically, seven days later at Misano, Italy.
Marquez scores His first back-to-back victories since having last won at the
Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) on October 3, 2021, Aye Karumba!
Or as the natty (British) Presenter, whom I
believe is Gavin Emmett noted; 1,050 days since His last “double”. When winning
at San Marino on September 19th and then COTA on October 3, 2021, but I’m
getting ahead of myself…
Saturday’s San Marino Sprint race saw Martin jump
ahead of arch rival (Francesco) Pecco’ Bagnaia, taking the win at the Italian’s
home track. But it was Sunday’s main race where the championship took another
dramatic twist.
The race began with Bagnaia leading Martin as
the rain intensified, with the Spaniard coming into the pits at the end of
lap-7 to switch onto a “Wet” (rain tyres) bike. Yet by lap-9 Martin was forced
again to pit to return back upon a “Dry” (slicks) bike, the only leader to do
so. Crucially miscalculating the weather. Dually being lapped by both Marc
Marquez and Bagnaia! With Martin ultimately finishing P15, battling to hold off
Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, Yikes! Seeing His championship points lead shrink from
21 to 7.
But the star of the San Marino GP was Marc
Marquez, who stormed from ninth on the grid to score His second consecutive
victory ahead of His future Ducati Corse teammate Bagnaia. While the rider
Marquez’s replacing, Enea Bastianini claimed the podium’s final step.
MotoGP returned to Misano a Fortnight later for
the Emilia Romagna GP, due to the Kazakhstan race having been cancelled.
Having watched the Sprint race Saturday at it’s
normal time slot. Which Bagnaia won ahead of Martin, reducing the points gap to
a razor thin four markers.
I Arse-sumed Sunday’s main race would also air
at the typical time of 7:30AM Pacific, Butterfingers!
Having set my alarm for 7:30AM in order to
listen to the preamble during breakfast. I was super Cornfuzed to hear that
there were only three and-a-half laps to go when I switched on, Huh? And even
more startled to learn that Bagnaia had apparently crashed out, Say What! I sat
riveted to Thy Telie’ over the final two laps with my two favourite riders
going Mano e Mano for Ducati’s 100th Grands Prix victory.
As you could just sense that Enea Bastianini
was riding better than Jorge Martin, who was blocking ah-Mighty’ whilst
narrowly leading! And after several lunges. On the final lap at Turn 4,
Bastianini muscled His way inside of Martin and took the lead, with the two
Booth Announcers going into a tizzy!
As Colour Commentator Neil Hodgson, who I just
learned was the 2003 World SuperbikeChampion said. It’s the last lap and it was
a Valentino )Rossi) move. With lead Presenter Gavin Emmett saying a Marc
Marquez move! And you know that Martin would have done the same thing…
Thus Martin increased His lead back to
24-points prior to Indonesia. The Second leg of MotoGP’s penultimate triple
header…
So I sat down just minutes before the start of
Mandalika’s Saturday Indonesian Sprint race and was truly disturbed to hear
Gavin Emmett going ballistic over Jorge Martin crashing from the lead on lap
one! Dropping to the rear of the grid and gifting Pecco Bagnaia 12-points,
being the unlikely winner of the race, Sheisa!
As there was more drama over the eventual runner-up
being teammate Bastianini, who muscled His way bast eventual third place
finisher Marc Marquez. As Yuhs know “The Beast” (Bastianini) will do everything
possible to finish ahead of Marquez until season’s end. Having been dropped by
Ducati to make way for Ye Pinball Wizard! (Marquez)
Thus Bagnaia chopped Martin’s championship lead
in half from 24-points to only 12-points before Sunday’s main race, Crikeys!
Fortunately, Martin wasn’t to be denied, or
lamenting over the day prior’s mistake. With the Spaniard rider leading
wire-to-wire from Pole Sunday! With His biggest threat being second place
satellite GasGas KTM rookie phenom Pedro Acosta, whom Martin kept at arm’s
reach the entire race…
While the rider whom seemed most destined to
rain upon Martin’s parade being Bastianini, who was going for broke. With only
victories in the remaining races being His only championship hope.
Yet it was all for naught, as The Beast threw
away His chance, crashing out on lap-19 of 27! While thee Pinball Wizard saw
His faint title aspirations go up in flames, when His Duc’ caught fire on
lap-12!
Meanwhile, Bagnaia once again struggled
mightily off the line, dropping down to sixth at one point before steadily
marching forward. Yet Bagnaia was only able to salvage third place on the
podium, seeing the championship points lead swing in Martin’s favour once
again. As Jorge increased His lead back to 21-points.
Whilst fortunately, Acosta, whose runner-up
finish came under scrutiny for tyre pressure violation, was cleared of this
infringement. With race Stewards deeming His low tyre pressure was due to a
slow rim leak. Therefore keeping second place and more importantly, the extra
four points from Bagnaia!
As it seemed odd hearing the announcers state
that it was Martin’s first main (Sunday) race victory since Le Mans in May!
With Motegi this weekend, with five rounds remaining, and 185-points still on
offer.
As Martin claimed the “double” in Japan last year at a track He supposedly likes. But surely there’s more championship twists to go? Although I’m totally rootin’ for Martin. Especially since it’s His last crack on the predominant Ducati Desmosedici GP24 before moving to Aprilia…