On Track Off Road No.182

Marquez loses his cool
8th April, Termas de Rio Honda
Where to start with this bizarre hour-long spell
when it felt as though the MotoGP grid had
been turned upside down, the FIM stewards
had imbibed two sips too many of the local
Malbec, and Marc Marquez appeared intent on
tearing up his hard-fought reputation, forged
over the past three years, as a more mature,
considered challenger?
This year’s running of the Argentine Grand
Prix had it all: drama; skill; confusion; and, of
course, controversy. The race provided some
of the year’s iconic images, with Jack Miller
and Alex Rins joining Cal Crutchlow and Johann
Zarco for a memorable podium fight that
pointed to a new generation of challengers
waiting in the wings. There was the rare sight
of Miller sat alone on the front row after the
grid was re-jigged to reflect his foresight in
choosing slick tyres – a decision all other 23
riders would abandon the grid to replicate.
His opportunistic move on Valentino Rossi at
turn 13 was careless at best and entirely warranted
a penalty that excluded him from the
points. Then there was the vitriolic reaction
that followed. Yamaha’s Lin Jarvis deemed him
to have “a total lack of respect.” Rossi opined
he “was ruining our sport.” And the gradual
thawing of tensions in the paddock was reversed.
Still, it all made a bloody enthralling
watch for those keen on scandal.
Oh, and Crutchlow’s brilliant, measured win
took him to the championship summit, the first
time for a British rider in the premier class
since 1979 – another reason this wayward afternoon
will live long in the memory.
And then, of course, there was the loss of
Marquez’s cool. From incurring a ride-through
penalty for bump-starting his bike after stalling
on the grid, his subsequent ride through
the pack was as awe-inspiring as it was careless.
There is so much to admire in Marquez’s
daredevil escapades. But this showing had too
much testosterone, too much swagger. On this
occasion pride appeared to overrun the part of
Marquez’s brain that has so effectively weighed
up risk in recent years.