Cycle News

CN III IN THE PADDOCK P132 BY MICHAEL SCOTT THE SPANISH ARMADA AND HOW TO SINK IT T here is a lot of loose talk about the Spanish civil war in MotoGP. It's because Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo plus new-boy Marc Marquez have, after four races, already taken firm control of the championship, including two rostrum lock-outs, and every race win. It's between the three Spaniards now. But this is no civil war. It's a world takeover. Marquez is merely the latest and potentially the best in a national trend that has gathered and continues to gather momentum. With no end in sight: Down in Moto3, where future champions are bred, the same situation – top three title spots, every race win, and two full-house rostrums out of four. It's not just the results. Ever since Aragon joined the calendar in 2010 there have been four GPs in Spain, plus the Portuguese round next door. Five of 18 rounds in the Iberian Peninsula. This is not the first time this column has observed the continual creep of Spanish domination (not without admiration: no other country has anything like Spain's wellestablished and supported infrastructure to nurture young talent). But this time it's different. The latest to spout on about MotoGP being too Spanish is none other than Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, the architect of modern Grand Prix racing, and since last year lord of World Superbikes as well. The Grand Poobah himself. Ezpeleta, nowadays increasingly avuncular as his empire grows, was collared by a Reuters man at the Catalunyan Formula One GP, and the report made interesting reading. Especially after having been Google-translated at least once. The English version of the French transcription has a sinister tone. Admitting that there are clearly too many Spaniards filling the top steps, Ezpeleta dismisses one solution with a plaintive shrug. He'd like to see more nationalities to fight for the podium. "But we cannot kill anyone." Rather astonishingly, he then moots "a quota system," by nationality. Which sounds rather like some sort of final solution. Perhaps it might be better if Dr. Costa can find a way to surgically alter a rider's nationality, without affecting his talent. Dani Von Pedrosa could restore German racing pride; then there's the great Irish rider Valentin O'Rossi. And so on... Rossi, of course, is the standout non-Spanish draw-card. He's not just Italian, he's international. But, as Ezpeleta also observed, he's not eternal. "We must prepare for a time when he leaves." he said. As it goes, the latest reinforcement to the dominant Spanish armada might be the one to save the day. A kid and his dad in the Le Mans pit illustrated the point. Instead of the standard VR46 branded gear, they were in the colors of Marquez the Merciless. The T-shirts and caps were brand new; they were not alone. How long before the crowds outside the Honda pit will outweigh the perpetual throng at the back of Rossi's?

• Cover