Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has been crowned the MotoGP champion for the seventh time in his premier class career, and has been “destined” to achieve greatness ever since his incredible performance at the 2012 Moto2 Valencian Grand Prix.
After losing out on the 2011 Moto2 title due to missing the final two races through an eye injury, Marquez returned to action in 2012 with one goal in mind: to become a two-time world champion before making the step up to the premier class.
The Ant of Cervera did exactly that as he stood on the top step of the podium nine times, took seven pole positions as well as a further five podium finishes alongside his race wins in a mesmerising showing that proved he was ready to compete with the very best on two wheels.
However, there was one race in particular that showed how prepared the 19-year-old was for the jump, and that was the very last race of the season in Valencia, after he had already secured his place as the 2012 Moto2 world champion.
Marquez was forced to start from the back of the grid in Valencia due to an incident in practice with another rider. Rain fell overnight on the Circuit de Valencia, setting the stage for one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
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Marc Marquez’s performance in his final Moto2 race showed why he was ‘destined’ to become a MotoGP champion
Starting from 33rd on the grid, Marquez wasted no time in showing his confidence in the slippery conditions as he muscled his way into 13th just three corners after the drop of the lights.
An overtaking clinic ensued, as the young Spaniard easily dispatched his Moto2 rivals one by one, working his way up the field until the race leader, Julian Simon, was in his sights with less than a handful of laps left to be raced.
It was the definition of a perfect race from Marquez, failing to put a foot wrong as he danced across the damp tarmac and showered his rivals in the displaced water from his rear tyre. Upon taking the chequered flag, the iconic voice of MotoGP, Nick Harris, couldn’t help but dish out the superlatives.
“All the headlines will be about Marc Marquez, an extraordinary ride from the world champion,” Harris roared. “He’s got away from Julian Simon now; surely he’s going to win this race if he doesn’t make a mistake.
“From the very last position on the grid, here at Valencia. Difficult to overtake, horrible conditions: wet, damp and cold.
“It doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference, Marc Marquez really is a 125, he’s a Moto2 world champion, he starts a new career on Tuesday, and we cannot wait!”
Marquez took part in a lap of honour to round out the 2012 season, and through his and everyone who was in attendance’s disbelief, Harris added, “Very special, very special indeed. A Spanish teenager who surely is destined to win a MotoGP world championship at some point.”
The words couldn’t have been more spot on. After joining the factory Honda team for his maiden season in the premier class, Marquez stunned MotoGP’s Hall of Fame riders in Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo to win his first title as a rookie rider.
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Nick Harris knew that Marc Marquez would be the perfect replacement for Casey Stoner at Honda
Marquez’s maiden season with Honda was the beginning of a highly successful partnership which saw the Spaniard become a six-time MotoGP title winner in his first seven seasons.
Replacing the retiring Casey Stoner at the Japanese constructor, Harris was correct in his prediction for Marquez as he watched him lift his ninth winners’ trophy of the year on the Valencian podium, adding, “Well, that is one of the performances of the season, in any class of Grand Prix racing.
“He’s going to replace an amazing world champion in Casey Stoner, but he’s going to fill those boots, isn’t he?”
With the dominance that Marquez and Ducati have shown throughout the current campaign, there is no doubt that he will be able to put up a fight next season to become an eight-time premier class title winner.
Only time will tell in that regard, but time has already told us that he is truly one of the greatest riders to race in a Grand Prix atop two wheels.
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