Marc Marquez on Sunday in Motegi wrote an indelible page in motorcycle racing history. His 9th world title was definitely the most important one for him, the emotion overwhelmed him, the image of his tears told a fascinating and touching story. From hell to heaven, this is how one can sum up the last 6 years, which began with the injury in Jerez and continued between hospital rooms, difficult decisions, doubts and, finally, successes.
Too bad that yesterday, if you cast your over over a newsstand in Italy, it was hard to notice what had happened. The front pages of the newspapers were celebrating - and rightly so - the success of the Italian national volleyball team, there was space also for the ubiquitous soccer... and then that was it. Not even the most important Italian sports newspaper, La Gazzetta della Sport, thought it important to put Marquez's success on its front page. Not even the mainstream newspapers, Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica first of all, gave space to Marc's headlining achievement.
The only exception was Corriere dello Sport, which devoted space to Marquez on its front page. Of course, to do so it decided to bring up the subject of Valentino Rossi, which always works.
The media silence around Marquez's World Championship is yet another signal that cannot be ignored. He didn't even need to win with Ducati to gain some of the space he would objectively deserve. After all, at Borgo Panigale they are very good - if not the best - at making motorcycles, but not so good at communicating their successes. The result is there for everyone to see, or rather no one to see, given how the news was treated.
Marquez's 'Ghost World Championship' is not just an Italian exclusive. Even taking a look at the major international newspapers, there is no trace of it. Only the French L'Equipe gave it front-page honors, albeit in a slightly sidelined position.
To find the news dominating the front pages, one has to go to Spain, as is to be expected. At least Marc is a prophet in his homeland, the only consolation.
MotoGP is now increasingly a niche sport and struggles to reach the general public. It is not just an Italian phenomenon, but an international one. Dorna throughout this season has celebrated new spectator records at the circuits, but this is not sufficient. The 'hard core' of motorcycle racing has never been in question, there is no shortage of true fans, but they are not the ones who make the numbers. Going around the tracks around the world, it is easy to notice - without needing who knows what sort of analysis - that the average age of spectators is rising. Apart from a few happy islands, such as Spain and France, it is young people who are missing from the circuits.
MotoGP no longer appeals to the younger generation and fails to attract the general public. It's pointless regretting 'when he was there' (in the sense of Valentino), something new must be invented. There is no lack of spectacle on the track, but it is no longer enough. Nor is it useful to complain about the current champions, because they are not the real problem. After all, how can anyone hold anything against Marc after the feat he has accomplished?
Liberty Media has made its entry into MotoGP, and everyone is waiting to see what it will do to help it grow. It needs ideas and investment, without screwing Formula 1 (as when at Misano some riders were made to bring their dogs into the paddock). It needs to be able to communicate how great and special MotoGP can offer, and that is no small thing.