of new rules, strictures and
threats, amid growing demands
on their time off-track. Their role
as sportsmen seeking sporting
success seems to play second
fiddle to that of entertainers,
there to help MotoGP attract
more fans.
Said Jack Miller, as part of a
longer and, in parts, self-contra-
dictory series of reported com-
ments: "It gets misconstrued;
we're here to be entertainers.
Which we are … but our enter-
tainment is racing a motorcycle.
The racing is the show."
One arc of complaint was trig-
gered when Marc Marquez sent
a body double (his leathers, dark
visor) in his place in a flim-flam
kart "race" on the morning of the
Japanese GP.
G
iven the current punishing
schedule—with five to go,
including a visit to Qatar in
the midst of escalating tension
in the region, and cramming
seven races into nine weeks—
perhaps a certain amount of
grumbling is inevitable.
Most of it is coming from
the riders, feeling increasingly
ignored and put upon by a series
P140
CN II IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
On the morning of the Japanese GP,
the MotoGP grid did a lap of Motegi
in go-karts. Do these types of promo
events actually help attract more
fans?
PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
MONKEYS
ON MOTORBIKES
