PDo you think that today’s Moto2 prepares riders better for MotoGP than when it was raced with the Honda engine? Let’s leave aside for a moment Pedro Acosta, who is a phenomenon. Several riders already arrive very fast in MotoGP.
“Marc Marquez did Moto2 with Honda (laughs, ed.)”.
It’s true, but he is a phenomenon!
“Well, in my opinion these are fairy tales, like those who said that the 250 prepared better… I don’t think so! Then it’s a fact that the Triumph engine performs better than that of the CBR 600, but the point is that real talent comes out regardless.”
In Austin we saw an exceptional race. In Jerez too. Didn’t Liberty Media make the deal? Marc coming back, Pedro arriving, Pecco wanting to keep the title…
“It is certainly a moment in which the spectacularity is very high. We have said for years that with this aerodynamics it is difficult to overtake, then Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez arrived on a competitive bike… and this is no longer true. Many times we talk and then what really matters is the driver on the track. Back in the day, when there was no aerodynamics and they raced fantastic four, apart from Valentino who loved the brawl… Casey, Jorge and Dani tried to do the race on their own and the races were less spectacular. It was with Marc’s arrival that we saw the show again. And, for better or worse, in this sport the biggest difference is still made by the drivers. This year perhaps this slight change in the pressure rule helped a little, but in my opinion the Jerez race without Marc Marquez would not have had the same charm.”
Absolutely. And the same thing probably happened in Austin: there was enormous anticipation around what he could do.
“Of course, on the track he is the most successful of all and has to fight against opponents who are new, who emerged in the years in which he suffered. This has added spice and Pedro’s arrival certainly helps. I must say that Acosta reminds me a lot of Marc Marquez in 2013 whose debut went far beyond the wildest expectations. To answer the question, yes, I think that Liberty Media – if it closes the deal, because as far as I know it isn’t completely done yet – could have bought a spectacular product, where despite there being several things to improve the starting point is Great”.
Where would you start from to improve this MotoGP? We push for a press restaurant in every circuit.
“(laughs, ed.) There are many things that could be done. In the short term, what worries me most is that despite the concessions it seems that the Japanese companies are unable to make big steps forward. I hope that the 2027 regulation goes in more traditional motorcycle directions, the ones that the Japanese knew how to do. In recent years, in my opinion they have underestimated the importance of aerodynamics and lowering systems, so they have fallen behind from that point of view. I would like to see simpler bikes. The ’22 Suzuki was a traditional bike, even if there was a lowering and some hints of aerodynamics. But then the bikes made monstrous leaps and today a machine like that would never be able to win a race. It is an aspect that must be considered, because not seeing these Japanese manufacturers – who have kept motorcycle motorsport alive for the last thirty years – would be a shame.”
