Audimat obliges, the frightening images of the collision between Maverick Vinales and Marco Bezzecchi during the Sprint of the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix have gone around the world, but fortunately the news from the riders concerned is reassuring.
For Maverick Vinales, no one was worried because although the violent incident happened at high speed on the Phillip Island circuit, everyone saw the Aprilia Racing rider immediately get up to gesture his displeasure.
For Marco Bezzecchi, it was quite different, since the VR46 Racing Team driver remained motionless for a long time in the gravel trap, before being evacuated on a stretcher, fully conscious. His team then communicated in a rather reassuring way: « Conduit
au
centre
medical
of
circuit
pour
and
premier
exam,
Who
n’a
revealed
none
injury,
il
a
ensuite
summer
transported
has
Melbourne
pour
of the
exams
complementary. »
Meanwhile, the panel of FIM MotoGP Stewards looked at the videos and data of the incident, before concluding that:
GRAND PRIX AUSTRALIA DE MOTORYCLE QATAR AIRWAYS
PHILLIP ISLAND 18-19-20 octobre 2024
FIM MotoGP™ Stewards Panel Activity Report – UPDATED
Pilot : #72 BEZZECCHI
Issue : collision with #12 12 VIÑALES at turn 1
Explication : On lap 11, approaching turn 1, the #72 Bezzecchi collided with the #12 Vinales, causing both drivers to crash at high speed.
An investigation was opened, an explanation was heard from No. 12 Vinales after the race. An audience with No. 72 Bezzecchi was postponed until Sunday due to the driver being taken to Melbourne Hospital for checks.
Multiple camera angles of the incident were examined and data was extracted for numbers 12 and 72 (involved in the incident).
The circumstances are as follows:
At the start of the 11th lap, between the finish line and turn 1, number 12 Vinales passed number 72 Bezzecchi without contact. Number 12 braked steadily and consistently with his braking point over the previous three laps. Examining the video evidence, it is observed that number 72 initiates a change of direction, which, with a later braking point and higher speed, made contact inevitable.
Taking into consideration the above facts, the Stewards determine that responsibility for the collision and resulting accident clearly rests with number 72. The Stewards have taken into account the effects of turbulent air caused by number 12 overtaking and accept that this disturbance may in this situation offer a degree of mitigation, due to which number 72 released the accelerator and reapplied the accelerator and braked later.
As a result, the stewards decide that although this incident could warrant a double long lap penalty, with extenuating circumstances, a single long lap penalty will be applied.
Action : Penalty for long lap in the next Grand Prix race
FIM MotoGP Stewards Committee
