I love Phillip Island, and it just never lets you down. Another epic MotoGP™ encounter on Sunday not only endorsed its rightful claim as the greatest motorcycle racing track in the world but showed what a crucial part non-championship contenders could play in the final outcome. Two riders in particular can certainly tilt the balance in the next three races.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Tream) can help current teammates, future teammates, and countrymen Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) claim the ultimate prize—the world title. As the points get tighter and the races fewer, how the pair of them react to certain situations, especially in that final round in Valencia, could be the difference between success and failure for the two contenders. It has happened, and been claimed by others to have happened, in the past.
It certainly happened at Phillip Island in 1990 in the final round of the 125cc World Championship. The record books show that Loris Capirossi won that final round to become the youngest-ever World Champion, and the pizzeria in Cowes named a new pizza after the 17-year-old. What they do not tell you is how the other Italian riders, such as Bruno Casanova, Doriano Romboni, and Fausto Gresini, nicknamed "the Mafia" by the non-Italian media, ganged up to help him. Dutchman Hans Spaan and German Stefan Prein still had a Championship chance, but the Italian ‘Godfathers’ protected their protégé from the moment the lights changed. Spaan eventually finished fourth behind three Italians, while Prein retired with engine problems, and Capirossi was eating that celebratory pizza.
Thirty-five years later, once again at Phillip Island, the biggest conspiracy theory in the history of the sport exploded. This definitely cost the accuser the world title. Valentino Rossi accused Marc Marquez of slowing the pace in another epic Island battle to allow Rossi’s teammate and Championship rival, Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, to finish second behind Marquez, in front of Andrea Iannone, with Rossi in fourth place. The nine-time World Champion was incensed and produced lap charts to try to prove his accusations, while out on the track at the next round in Sepang turned into total warfare.
No war of words this time but a clash of the titans. They swapped third place nine times on one single lap, and it could never last—and it did not. After another swapping of paint clash, Marquez crashed, and Rossi was docked three penalty points for causing the crash. It meant he had to start from the back of the grid at the final round in Valencia. He finished fourth, but Lorenzo won to clinch his third MotoGP World title. Rossi fans continued the patriotic accusations, claiming that Marquez and Pedrosa, in second and third places, protected Lorenzo from Rossi and did not try and overtake him at the front.
Teammates have been drafted in to help at the final round. The 250cc World Champion Carlos Lavado was drafted into the final round of the 1983 500cc Yamaha team to help Kenny Roberts clinch the world title. He could not help, as Freddie Spencer played the classic cat-and-mouse game in a truly fascinating game of chess. Kenny at the front continually slowed and upped the pace, but Freddie kept cool. Second place was enough to win him that first title.
So, what happens this time round when it comes to the crunch? Will Marc Marquez help his next year’s Lenovo Ducati teammate Bagnaia win the title? Will he share any patriotic pride with Martin, or will he just go on to win more Grands Prix? Will Bastianini help fellow countryman and current teammate Bagnaia in his title bid after losing his place in the Ducati team to Marquez next season?
These are delicate questions that will not be answered until that final round in Valencia, but they will have to be asked.