P132
CN
III IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
S
aying that MotoGP 2020
got going with a skeleton
staff might seem in poor
taste, given that the naughty old
coronavirus is leaving an increas-
ing number of corpses in its
wake. It's been the early-season
winner, creating havoc in the
best-laid plans of the no-longer-
so-smug series management.
Dorna responded quickly and
so far effectively to a fast-chang-
ing situation. But they couldn't
prevent the season starting at
Doha with only the junior class-
es. A bit like Hamlet without the
prince, a love affair without a
partner, a hamburger without
the patties. Or more accurately,
a Sunday roast dinner without
the beef.
(The woke-vegan virtue-gain-
ing of this last image must stay
in abeyance, however. Pollution
of the desert night comes less
from the exhausts of 22 gas-
profligate MotoGP bikes, more
from banks of grumbling genera-
tors providing enough lighting
for streetlamps "from Doha to
Moscow"—a journey few would
voluntarily undertake.)
The havoc means disappoint-
ment for riders and fans alike,
with everything put on hold. But
it also means opportunity. The
SECOND CHANCE
No one wants to
see MotoGP races
canceled, but Honda
(and other teams) will
use the downtime to its
advantage, especially
the healing Marc
Marquez (93) and his
rookie brother, Alex.
PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
