P140
CN
III IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
T
he Spanish national
anthem has no words,
and this is because of the
nation's three different major lan-
guages. To use only one would
be divisive; to use more would
be over-complicated.
The Italian crowd, however,
managed to think of some words
to go with the solemn tune, as it
was played for the podium cer-
emony at Misano. Or one word,
anyway: Boo.
That was how the army of
yellow-clad fans helped to cel-
ebrate the end of a great race,
a brilliant demonstration of the
growing strength of the Yamaha,
and the very impressive ability of
one (and only one) of the Honda
riders to counter it.
As winner Marc Marquez said
after the contrasting fortunes
of everybody else riding an
RC213V (crashed, or near the
back, or both), "Luckily for Mo-
toGP the rider still makes more
difference than the bike."
It was, of course, not Valen-
tino Rossi who most showed Ya-
maha's strength but class rookie
Fabio Quartararo; and Marquez
had to use all his technique,
courage and guile to finally
BOO HOO, AND THE YELLOW PERIL
Valentino Rossi fans made it clear
they were unhappy that Marc
Marquez won on the Italian's home
turf at Misano. PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
