Steve Parrish
Things are looking up for Parrish
Finally! Spring is here, everything is unlocking, racing has started… it doesn’t get much better than that, does it? I mean, I don’t know about you lot, but I’m feeling really positive about it all, and with outdoor events looking to take place, I’m absolutely buzzing to be able to get back working around bikes once again. Things have been so bloody slow here at home that I’ve even reverted to riding my old Norton around the Plummet Airways field, which I wouldn’t recommend at all. Oh, and leaving a doll with my trousers on underneath the car on the drive… it’s the only way to stay entertained, watching people trying to have a chat as they walk past. The looks you get are absolutely priceless. Thankfully I was saved from being too stupid by the glorious return of MotoGP to our screens which, in my opinion, couldn’t come quick enough. Racing is good no matter what, but I think it’s a bit of a bummer having two races back-to-back at the same track. It just takes the edge off a bit, and especially having it at Qatar… they couldn’t have picked a duller track, I don’t think! I bet even the riders were getting pissed off with it, after five days of testing and two race weekends… especially on those little Moto3 bikes.
Mind you, it’s cool to see such different results from both weekends. Conditions weren’t far off, yet even so there really was a shake-up in the results, which shows just how hard the teams can work on set-up and strategy between races. That sort of stuff I find really interesting and after those first two rounds, I really am buzzing for it to be back to Portimao. One thing that does take the mick though is the sanctions, like what happened to poor old John McPhee. Basically, he got taken out through no fault of his own for the second weekend in a row, and he gave the other chap a little kick and had a little scuffle – just venting some anger. He got a fine, a pitlane start and even a time penalty which, in my opinion, is just sucking the life out of it.
It’s like Dorna are trying to make sanitised people out of a high-octane and spirited sport, which is wrong because it needs characters and it’s all about that excitement. And with all the newbies like Jorge Martin showing the old lads like Rossi how it’s done, you’ve got to hope they keep that aggression up.
One thing is for sure, though – that it’s going to be a great season!