Maybe Honda have moved on? That’s the problem when you build a bike to suit a particular riders style, if their out injured your not winning shit? Maybe Honda preempted this and had back room discussions along the lines of, we’ve built this unique bike around one riders style and it’s done us well but he’s fragile now and the trophy cabinet is getting dusty, maybe we need to take measures to cover the possibilities of him being out long term again and build a bike to suit a broader range of riders styles? At the same time they are changing the bike, he’s trying harder on a bike that’s not suiting him, he crashes and is out again, it’s a vicious circle?
If it’s all the rider why did Rossi take his crew with him to Yamaha or why did they redevelop the M1, couldn’t he just win on the old one? And why didn’t he win the title on the Ducati?
How many riders have we seen get on new models, new manufacturers or teams etc and go from hero to zero. That should tell you what you need to know. At that level especially the difference in winning or being nowhere is microscopic
I don't think Honda have moved on, but two years of winning diddly and it becoming very apparent that the bike is only as good as the rider (something that as I recall was the reason Rossi left as Honda believed the bike was the difference and not the rider). The Japanese will have been embarrassed and they have had to listen to the feedback of others including Bradl as their test rider. Sponsors want wins etc etc.
I tend to think Ducati Factory have historically been the worst for this behaviour. It takes both to win races on a bike. You can have all the talent in the world and be nowhere without the right machine under you. But you can have the best machine out there and equally be nowhere if you don’t have the minerals. Best is not an easy thing to define either, as best for one rider might not be best for another. (Honda and marquez) which worked but nobody else could ride it. Feel is everything
So sad and with so much more to give to have to retire due to illness must be a bitter pill to swallow..but surely if his vision is impaired due to concussion the only option would be surely to hang up his leathers
MotoGP: Marc Marquez to race at Grand Prix of Americas as he returns after crash https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/61008278
He’s been at Alcarras testing on a cbr6. Knocked out a 1:36 within 30 minutes. Jack miller meanwhile did a 1:37 on a v4 having been there three days (marquez does know the track well). Something to prove perhaps.. I did a low 1:40 when I was out there on my 600. G’wan babiiii!!! however the circuit has deteriorated since so it’s not as close as it appears. I’ll still take it.
Yeah there was a picture of him sitting in a generic airport holding area with his bags. Are we to believe he flies economy?
it's interesting that it's resolved itself so quickly, can only think that it's some sort of concussion causing pressure on the nerve type situation rather than a full on severed/damaged nerve as this would surely take similar time to fix as the previous bang to the head. He will win this weekend, I don't think there is any doubt of that....
Or it’s utter stupidity. There is a very fine line between brilliance and madness and both can suffer from being foolhardy. Andy