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MotoGP, GP Aragon: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Marquez the prophet in his own country, Lorenzo reappears and Valentino is forced to settle. Michelin makes a bad impression

GP Aragon: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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Marc Marquez was the prophet in his own country and showed everyone that his law still stands, and that his right wrist still gets the better of the grey matter. He used Aragon as his own personal playground, inviting his friends along, but only to humiliate him.

Even the shark Lorenzo appeared to be a fish out of water. That second place finish is an important one for him, a trampoline from which to launch himself into the next races. Valentino tried to celebrate the podium, but he knows that Marquez is on target for the title.

Meanwhile, Michelin caused trouble for Ducati and Pedrosa and the Aprilias took a step forward. There are always surprises of course, though this time there was no new race winner.

THE GOOD – Marquez is up for two Nobel prizes. The first for mathematics, given that he's always able to take what is the best possible result for himself, and the second for physics, a field in which he rewrites the laws at will. As we await news from Stockholm, he dominated the weekend and the championship at Aragon, leaving his accountant's suit, which never suited him, in the garage.

THE BAD – Sometimes a middle finger is worth more than a thousand words, doing no harm and helping to release tension. However the real men of the championship should know how to behave, being careful not to upset the spectators. Despite those spectators seeing (and doing) worse on the streets of their own town. Three hundred euros for a rude gesture is, at times, money well spent. Now we'll wait for the next politically correct rule, we have some ideas of our own: kneeling on chick peas for swearing during the press conference, ten push-ups for picking your nose, a keelhaul for an aggressive pass...

THE UGLY– There's no forgetting what happened with the tyres. Dovizioso and Pedrosa spoke with the tone of diplomats, but the words stuck in their throats. We'll wait to hear from Michelin as to what exactly happened, but something went wrong and somebody should take responsibility.

Alvaro Bautista e Stefan BradlTHE CONFIRMATION  – Aprilia has arrived, and fights with us. After a first part of the season spent languishing at the bottom of the standings, this wasn't necessary the expected outcome. In Noale, this summer, the bikes were considered more important than holidays and the results are clear to see. Bautista and Bradl are also playing their part, as are the technicians, and everyone left Aragon very happy with their performance.

THE DISAPPOINTMENT – What remains after having witnessed Valentino's recovery come up against the Marquez wall. Mathematics shows Rossi is still in with a chance, but he'd also need the help of the stars and a few superheroes chosen at random. Hope is the last to die, as long as Marc doesn't decide to kill it at Motegi.

THE MISTAKE – Rather than a derby, it was a demolition derby between Petrucci and Redding. Danilo was to blame and, after playing the bowling pin in practice, he became the demolition ball for his team-mate in the race. Perhaps he needs a dressing down and a cold shower to get his head together.

Jorge LorenzoTHE SURPRISE – He wasn't exactly the shark that his helmet had promised, but he was at least a barracuda. Jorge Lorenzo finally made peace with the tyres and was back in the mix after a period of absence. The hibernation appears to be over.

THE PASS – Right until the end, Brad Binder battled and made passes, as if the title wasn't even on the table. A title that he deserves, and that he has taken. South Africa has rediscovered motorcycling after more than 30 years, not bad.

THE INTERESTING FACT – Alex Rins was born just a few kilometres from Motorland Aragon and just a few days before the GP he inaugurated his own fuel station. It's called 42oil and has kerbstones at the entrance and exit. We checked, but it's missing umbrella girls.

I TOLD YOU SO – Jorge Lorenzo on Saturday: “I won't be on the podium”. How nice it is to be wrong.

Translated by Heather Watson
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