MotoGP: Bodyguards For Lorenzo and Marquez At Mugello
Rennie Scaysbrook | May 19, 2016
Is the Valeban after Lorenzo (left) and Marquez (right)? Dorna seems to think so and has assigned bodyguards to both riders.
Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo will have bodyguards shading them during this weekend’s Italian MotoGP round at Mugello.
The move is the result of Valentino Rossi fan uproar following the explosive end to the 2015 MotoGP World Championship in which Rossi claimed Marc Marquez conspired to help Lorenzo lift the title.
“Well, in the paddock I don’t know if it’s necessary. Maybe outside the paddock?” said Lorenzo. “There are a lot of fans in Italy, and you never know how a fan can react. So the bodyguards are there and if we don’t need them, it’s okay. If we do need them, they are ready to work.”
Interestingly, Marquez was dead against the move, one that will also see a bodyguard assigned to his younger brother, Moto2 rider Alex Marquez.
“Honestly since I arrived here yesterday I feel ready good. The fans are just asking for pictures and autographs. This morning when I go out of the motorhome I see a bodyguard, and honestly I already said to Dorna that I don’t need a bodyguard,” Marquez said.
“I don’t want a bodyguard. I want to feel normal. This is (just) another circuit and I think we are in a sport where this will not happen. So I already told them that I don’t need. Just I feel great and this is most important.”
Mugello is expected to be a hostile environment not just for the riders but also their entourages. As a result, only 100 members from Lorenzo’s official fan club will be at Mugello and none from Marquez’s will make the trip to Italy.
