Marquez needs Pedrosa more than ever

The thorny issue of team orders rears its head at the Indy GP, with many realising the pivotal role Pedrosa could play in the title race...

With nineteen years of experience reporting on MotoGP™ for Motorcycle News, MotoGP Commentator Matthew Birt knows the championship inside-out. For the 2015 season he joins the motogp.com team to bring you exclusive news and opinion from inside the paddock.

It seems apt that temperatures in Brno this weekend will soar into the sizzling high 30s and low 40s when you consider how nicely the fight for the 2015 MotoGP World Championship is hotting up.

Last weekend’s Indianapolis clash was further proof that after his costly crashes in Argentina, Mugello and Catalunya, the momentum has swung heavily back in favour of Marc Marquez.

Two wins in a row from pole position in Germany and America have been reminiscent of the form that the Spaniard showed on his way to a resounding triumph last season.

Marquez looks to be back to his best form, but his destiny is not in his own hands. If he is to successfully defend his title he is going to need more help from his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa than he got in Indianapolis.

As long as Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo can finish on the podium then it doesn’t matter if Marquez wins the remaining eight races. He’ll simply run out of time to overturn the 56-point deficit against Rossi.

That’s why Marquez badly needs Pedrosa to repeat his Sachsenring performance and finish ahead of Rossi and Yamaha in the next few races.

A couple of fourth place finishes for Rossi or Lorenzo, with Marquez on the top step of the podium puts a whole different complexion on the battle.

The thorny issue of team orders already reared its head in Indianapolis, with many recognising the pivotal role Pedrosa could play in the title race if he could indeed start defeating Rossi and Lorenzo on a consistent basis.

The notion that team orders will already be a consideration at Honda to help Marquez at this juncture of the season though is ludicrous.

Pedrosa clearly has absolutely no shot at capturing an elusive first title but right now, as it should be, it is every man for himself.

What we saw in Indianapolis has certainly added to the anticipation of this weekend’s Brno race.

Indy had two great battles within one race, with Marquez prevailing in a brilliant victory fight against Lorenzo and Rossi preserving his 100% podium record in 2015 with a late and crucial moral victory over Pedrosa for what could prove to be a priceless third place.

Brno this weekend could be a fascinating showdown between the top quartet. Marquez definitely has a score to settle with the track, as it was here one year ago that his amazing streak of 10 successive victories came to an abrupt halt when he didn’t even make the podium.

A repeat of that result would have grave consequences for his title aspirations.

Pedrosa will be desperate to get back to winning ways, as Brno marks a year since his last MotoGP victory.

It’s strange to think for a rider of Pedrosa’s calibre that the Brno round 12 months ago was the Spaniard’s only win since Sepang at the end of 2013.

Lorenzo adores Brno, even though he hasn’t won here since 2010. The fast and flowing nature of the track marries well with his smooth and high corner speed style, and he smells blood having reduced Rossi’s advantage to single figures again in Indianapolis.

Rossi also strongly fancies his chances of a sixth premier class win in Brno, which would be his first since 2009 when he last won the title.

I think Sunday’s race is all set up to be the best we have seen so far in what has already been a captivating 2015.

Rossi and Lorenzo will be anxious to prevent Marquez getting a firmer foothold in the title race.

My money is on Marquez to win again, with Rossi and Lorenzo edging Pedrosa for the podium.

That’s not the best scenario for Marquez’s title hopes. It certainly wouldn’t be game over, but he needs Pedrosa more than ever to be his Czech mate before it is checkmate for his Championship chances.