Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez might be able to celebrate his first win of the season today when the Spaniard takes part in a virtual race from the comfort of his home.
The dominant Honda rider has had no opportunity to triumph on the real racetrack so far this year, with this month’s opening Qatar round canceled and the following four races all postponed.
The season is not due to start until mid-May at the earliest.
Photo: AFP
Marquez has a remote chance, in the strictly literal sense, in what is being presented by MotoGP organizers as the #StayAtHomeGP.
“All of us are living in a difficult moment, so it will be really nice to have some fun and bring some action to the fans,” he said.
A cast of regular riders, including Marquez and his brother and teammate Alex, as well as Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and Petronas Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo are to race on the official MotoGP 2019 video game.
The race is to be six laps of the virtual Mugello circuit, home to the Italian Grand Prix, after a five minute qualifying period.
Fans can watch on selected TV channels and across social media platforms.
“I have been remaining at home, still training as much as I can while staying safe,” Marquez said in a Honda statement.
“Alex and I enjoy playing the MotoGP game together, but now we must be a little more serious about it,” Marquez added. “No matter what we are racing, as riders we want to win. With the race only being six laps, I think we can go full aggression and push the whole way. I’m looking forward to doing some racing.”
Moto2 champion Alex Marquez, 23, has yet to make his race debut at the top level after moving up for this season.
“We have a responsibility to encourage people to stay inside and follow the guidelines. If they can’t come to the races, then we can bring the races to them,” said the younger Marquez, who has been training indoors. “I thought my ‘racing debut’ would be a little different, but I am looking forward to it either way. Normally I am quite competitive in the MotoGP game when I play with friends, so I am not sure I am a true rookie.”
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
Italian Luca de Aliprandini described Saturday’s World Cup giant slalom at Val d’Isere as the hardest race of his life, coming two days after his Swiss partner Michelle Gisin suffered a heavy fall in training which required neck surgery. De Aliprandini finished 26th in the men’s event won by Loic Meillard, but the result paled into insignificance with two-time Olympic ski champion Gisin in hospital with injuries to her wrist, knee and cervical spine (neck). “It was Michelle’s wish that I race here. I couldn’t say no to her, but it was the toughest race of my entire life,” an emotional De
TOP OF THE TABLE: Evann Guessand put the visitors ahead early in the game and Flavius Daniliuc equalized before Youri Tielemans got the winner in the second half Aston Villa on Thursday extended their winning streak to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Basel in the UEFA Europa League to secure at least a playoff spot. Villa were tied with Olympique Lyonnais, who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1, and Midtjylland, 1-0 winners over Genk, atop the standings of the second-tier European competition on 15 points with five wins from six games. They have bounced back from a poor start to the season and are third in the Premier League, including a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday. At St Jakob-Park in Basel, summer signing Evann Guessand
RSS