By Emilio Pérez de Rozas
I wrote the other day that the champions, of everything, start to measure themselves by the size of their opponents. When Real Madrid wins the League, they celebrate it doubly because they beat Barça. And vice versa, and vice versa. When Rafa Nadal defeats Roger Federer, he is defeating a myth. So, in effect, the size of the titles won by Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Márquez are, of course, at the level of the two enormous, tremendous and tireless rivals who have had, Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaró.
But, of course, if you look at the data, the numbers, which in this sport also count (what is it but telemetry), of the two new (old) champions, you will understand that there was no choice but to put them in the end the crown of ‘kings’. Cotton does not deceive and, sooner rather than later, there they are, kings among kings. Of course, Lorenzo celebrated with Pedrosa and Márquez with ‘Polyccio’ at the top of the podium. It’s not the same, no. But, the two champions have had the courage (nobody expected less of them) than ‘champion’ in the drawer.
Because they have lived all year on the podium. Those are the numbers, the statistics, to which I referred when I invited them to come to the conclusion that when someone, like the four-time Majorcan champion, finishes on the podium 15 of the 16 great prizes he has played, nothing is coincidence . Six victories (Qatar, France, Catalunya, Great Britain, Italy and San Marino) and ten second places (Jérez, Estoril, Sachsenring, Laguna Seca, Indianapolis, Brno, Motorland, Motegi, Sepang and Phillip Island) do not turn anyone into champion. And to know where Lorenzo would have finished in the ‘cathedral’ of Assen if Álvaro Bautista does not take it to the front.
The same happens with the wizard of Cervera, who has fallen twice in water (Le Mans and Malaysia), has won eight races (Qatar, Portugal, Holland, Indianapolis, Czech Republic, San Marino and Japan), has been second in Jerez and Motorland, third in Montmeló, Silverstone and Phillip Island and fourth in Italy. Of course, Marc and all his people know that he has to prepare for water because it is impossible to be a protagonist in MotoGP without raising scales, fins and masks. You have to know how to dive on the asphalt to proclaim yourself champion in the top category.
Two guys like that, who in the end have had the ease, the privilege and the advantage (because they had won it before, dammit!) Of being able to run without risking and forcing their pursuers to fall or live in the wire, have turned the MotoGP and Moto2 champions in honor of each other. Because their careers, their seasons, their trajectories, the way they have used to delight us with their driving and, above all, become champions makes the World Championship even bigger.
They had, indeed, few enemies, but they had to be defeated. And, above all, they had the manor, the greatness, the professionalism, the experience and the courage to lead two factories like Suter and Yamaha, to which they have served victories that are priceless. Because that is, also, the greatness of Lorenzo and Márquez, who have been able to run alone, develop their bikes alone and serve their brands. That is why Lorenzo has already buried that fable of winning with the bike that the ‘Doctor’ made, which now returns to the box without a wall with his tail between his legs. And that’s why the pimp Shuhei Nakamoto has signed Marquez, to see if he recovers the scepter that Lorenzo has taken again to the blue ‘box’.
If something is not in these two scepters is chance, chipira, luck. There is organization, courage, science, experience, work, knowing how to be, knowing how to do and two huge teams of two kids who are, not like others, examples in the paddock and leaders, yes, a new way of doing things . Or maybe it’s the same as always, be very old, but with their happy faces they look like some modernites. That fly low.
Motocuatro.com
