Stronger than his opponents, stronger than fear, bad thoughts, pain. Stronger than anyone else, still, on the right track and at the right time. Marc Marquez won against himself, flirting with his instinct that crashed him almost a year ago in Jerez, which made him triumph at the Sachsenring yesterday. Anything else sets the stage for the story of a champion who everyone believed lost and who was instead found again.
A colossus that eclipsed everything else. The solidity of Rins, the half miracle of Quartararo on the podium with Yamaha, the comeback of Bagnaia. This Sunday was just for him and now he knows there will be more.
THE GOOD – More than just good, absolutely outstanding. Brilliant. If it’s not old Marquez, he looks very much like him, regardless of a friendly stretch and an arm not yet put on. Maybe there will be a flash of light in dark times, but meanwhile the star shone high in the sky for another Sunday. Like in fairy tales, in which the champion always triumphs and the heroes are all young and beautiful.
THE BAD – Imagine a Sunday when a one-armed rider triumphs. Imagine he’s riding your bike. Imagine turning 10 or 13 or crashing. Imagine you have serious questions to ask yourself. Honda didn’t solve their problems overnight, but whoever wins is always right … while Pol Espargarò, Takaaki Nakagami and Alex Marquez are wrong.
THE UGLY – Fortunately, Quartararo has broad shoulders, they are used to carrying the weight of a Yamaha, which sinks without a trace on everyone, but not on him. Vinales makes a fuss, Morbidelli becomes a yoga guru so as not to explode, Rossi has to decide his future on the basis of a future he does not like. Many questions and only a few answers for an M1 that cannot convince its drivers even if it wins.
Disappointment – Aprilia only wanted him in MotoGP a year ago, Petronas was considering getting him next season, but does Joe Roberts really deserve it? The talent is there but the results are not in yet and a fall on the final lap of the German GP certainly didn’t improve the situation.
THE CONFIRMATION – Oliveira, Gardner, Acosta. Anyone who doubts that KTM has no sense for drivers should recite the triad of penance. Three names that say the present is orange … or rosy, but the future is probably even more so. And now that the RC16 is back on track, don’t even risk losing it.
THE ERROR – You learn from mistakes, even if rookie Raul Fernandez didn’t need any lessons before the Sachsenring. A serious fall for the championship, but absolutely forgivable for the Spaniard.
THE SURPRISE – The last time an Aprilia was in the front row, there was still a smell of castor oil in the paddock. They did a good job in Noale and Aleix Espargarò turned his head upside down this year. He’s still missing a podium, but it’s no longer impossible.
THE PASS – It’s easy to give Bagnaia the award after his comeback, but the Ducati rider accepts it with a grimace. The pace was there, qualifying wasn’t (but not his fault) and the first few laps remain a mystery. Pecco’s mosaic is almost finished, all he has to do is lay the last tiles.
THE CURIOSITY – A foot wrapped in aluminum foil is a Pol Espargarò specialty. For optimal cooking you need a Honda V4 and the summery climate of the Sachsenring. Then they go and say that Germany is only famous for sauerkraut and sausages in the kitchen.
I TOLD YOU – “Don’t bet on me” guarantees Marquez. The bookies association decided to send him a bouquet of flowers …