FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPION MARC MARQUEZ
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PROFILE
title, when he could return to his
natural mode—win or bust.
He somehow escaped injury.
As Cal Crutchlow said: "We
call him 'The Cat,' because he
always lands on his feet."
More remarkable is his ability to
save moments that, to most other
riders, would have meant a fall—an
ability he shares with the man
whose "youngest-ever" records
he broke—Freddie Spencer.
Few more spectacular than
his long front-wheel slide in prac-
tice at Brno, where he managed
to pick the bike up with his knee
and shoulder, and regain trac-
tion and control, although now
heading off the track. By sheer
luck the pit lane entrance gave
him an escape road. That save,
one of many during the year,
was, he thought, less miraculous
than one captured in photo-
graphs during testing at Brno in
2014. "The slide this time was
very long, but the angle of the
bike was 67.5 degrees," he said.
"In 2014 it was more than 68
degrees."
Rossi was one of many admir-
ers. "It is something he does a
lot," he said. He had been able
to save it "because of his posi-
tion on the bike, and because of
his talent."
Talent is hardly a big enough
word for Marquez. This past
season put him equal with great
rival Lorenzo, with five cham-
pionships. But Marc has taken
just nine years, Lorenzo has
been racing for 15. The two are
equal also on pole positions,
65 apiece, with Rossi at 64.
Rossi has more race wins, with
114 in 21 years and 348 starts,
a percentage rate of 32.75. Lo-
renzo—64 from 250, 26 percent.
Marquez 55 from 150, 36.7
percent. His 55th win this year
put him one ahead of Mick Doo-
han on the all-time all-classes
list, sixth overall behind Agostini,
Rossi, Angel Nieto, Mike Hail-
wood and Lorenzo.
2016 was a great comeback—
newly mature, well-controlled,
able to look at the big picture
instead of just the bike in front
of him. Marquez ended up firmly
on top.
And still just 23 years old. CN
The moment he wins another world title. You can imagine the feeling in his head at that point.
