On Track Off Road No. 187

FEATURE
For four years in WorldS-
BK Jonathan Rea has
been King. That might
not be the case any longer
(despite the recent rally at
Imola). Alvaro Bautista is the
man poised to perform regicide
and ascend to the throne.
The Ducati rider has been
almost unbeatable this year.
In hot or cold conditions, at
‘stop and go’, or even flowing
race tracks he has asserted
his dominance. It has been
as impressive as it has been
unprecedented. You can’t help
but be impressed by Bautista.
If he were a chess piece he’d
be the Queen. He’s the most
valuable piece because he can
move in any direction and put
itself anywhere on the board.
In Assen Race 1 we saw this
illustrated perfectly, as he
ducked and weaved behind
Rea probing for an opening.
He was able to hold tighter
lines or long sweeping lines.
He was able to try and roll
through corners with high corner
speed, or try and out-drag
his rivals. A jack of all trades...
and a master of them too.
Is he that much more talented
than his new rivals? Of
course not, but he has been
developed and nurtured in a
very different environment.
What is it that makes Marc
Marquez special? His otherworldly
ability to save a crash
is amazing, his ability to think
on the fly and adapt to conditions
is hugely impressive
but it’s his commitment that
really impresses. Every corner
of every lap of every session
of every round of every
season, he’s on the absolute
edge. For the seven times
world champion that’s eleven
years of Grand Prix competition,
in addition to his time in
the Spanish CEV championship
where he cut his teeth.
For thirteen years he’s known
nothing other than having his
back to the wall and coming
out swinging. Anything less,
and he’s be nowhere. That’s
what the Spanish championship
and 125cc, Moto2 and
MotoGP has taught him.
“It’s instilled in us,” explained
former peer Bradley Smith.
“Am I surprised that Alvaro is
doing what he’s doing? No I’m
not because he was riding so
well when he left MotoGP. He
was at the height of his career
at that point. I don’t want
to be disrespectful to any
of the Superbike guys, but
their system is different. In
the Grand Prix paddock from
when you’re 15 or 16 years
old you’re wide open from the
first lap you hit the track. You
have to stay at that level and
it gets ingrained in you.”
“Year on year you get better.
Playing with that 98-99%
level because if you don’t
ride at it, you don’t get a job
next year. It’s so finely tuned.