David Alonso began to write a few pages of MotoGP history in Montegi. He's the first Colombian rider to have won a title in any class. With ten wins, he's equaled Joan Mir's season record and, with four GPs still to go, he has a chance to equal and improve on Valentino Rossi's: eleven won in 1997 in what was then the 125.
And, thanks to his feats, David has been nicknamed BabyGOAT, that is, the greatest of all time ... still in diapers. Obviously, it's a playful definition, as he explained when interviewed by Marca: "I'm not the best of all time, so jokingly, we added 'Baby'. Who's the GOAT? There isn't just one: a ccouple are Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, who are no longer such because of what they win but because of what they've done. That level isn't because of everything they've won, which is a lot, but because of everything they've created around them."
Meanwhile, the greatest in motorcycling wanted to pay tribute to Alonso in Japan, waiting for him in the pit lane to greet him after his victory. Virtually everyone was there, from Marquez to Bagnaia, Martin to Quartararo.
"One of the greatest things that happened to me that Sunday wasn't just winning the world championship but seeing how the whole paddock, all the people, were happy. How so many people were happy for my victory. And high-fiving me in the pit lane is what I liked the most," the Aspar team rider said. "The thing that makes me happiest is that I was able to make a lot of people happy that day."
The MotoGP riders like David, and he takes the opportunity to learn from them, to ask for advice.
"One of the things that impressed me the most was to hear that Marc cried about my letter and my triumph," Alonso continued. "I always try to put myself in that mode and be attentive with all five senses when they explain something to me, when they talk to me, because the path I'm on has already been crossed by other people. With Marc Márquez, having that relationship and being able to train with him from time to time, is a dream come true. He's been my idol in TV. To be able to share moments with him is a dream come true."
Who knows if he'll be able to challenge him in the MotoGP, as well. Many are soon expecting the Colombian rider in the premier class.
"I've already told Aspar and Nico Terol that I won't go to the MotoGP until I win the Moto2. It's going to be difficult because the category is very hard, and we'll have to prepare well." We can't say that he doesn't have very clear ideas.