Barcelona, a high-tension Sunday
Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi may not have been the most prominent protagonist of a dark Sunday at the Catalunya Grand Prix, but like all his colleagues, he was deeply affected by the two spectacular crashes that marred the day. While Álex Márquez and Johann Zarco thankfully avoided the worst, concern was palpable in the paddock. “It wasn’t a great day,” confessed Bezzecchi, his face still showing the strain. “I sincerely hope they are okay, especially Álex who had the more violent incident. If everyone is fine, it means we were blessed, because the first crash, in particular, was a big, big accident.”
Despite being further back on track (13th at the time of the impact), Bezzecchi was not spared the direct consequences. Debris from Álex Márquez’s Ducati, which was literally pulverised, hit his bike. “I was quite far back and got hit by some pieces,” he testified. “I don’t dare imagine what it must have been like for those closer, like Diggia for example. Put yourselves in our shoes: you see 2000 pieces flying at you! And even then, I was far away, but imagine Fabio
who took the entire fork and tyre. We can say it was…”
The remains of Álex Márquez’s bike after his violent crash.
Aprilia’s crucial support in the chaos
Beyond the shock of the images, Marco Bezzecchi highlighted the importance of his Aprilia team’s support in navigating this ordeal. Amidst the emotional turmoil, the men in his garage managed to create a bubble of serenity. “I have to thank my team because I think they managed the situation very well in the garage,” he explained. “In this chaos, they managed to create a comfort zone for me. It wasn’t easy, but they gave me all the help possible. Fortunately, when you’re on the bike, it’s like being in our own comfort zone, us riders.”
Unlike Fabio Di Giannantonio, who injured his left hand from debris and was forced to miss the following day’s test, or his compatriot Pecco Bagnaia, suffering from a left wrist injury after colliding with Zarco, Bezzecchi came through the weekend without a scratch. “In the misfortune of all these episodes, I was rather lucky because they were all in front of me,” he concluded, acknowledging his own good fortune amidst the collective misfortune.
Circuit Safety: An Endless Debate
Shaken by the violence of the events, Marco Bezzecchi did not immediately seek culprits at the end of the race. Far from pointing fingers at any failure of the Barcelona circuit, he preferred to recall the inherent danger of MotoGP, tinged with a certain realism regarding the unpredictability of the discipline. “Nobody could have imagined an accident like that, given the way these bikes are ridden, and also the way crashes usually happen, which is in corners,” he recalled, referring to Álex Márquez’s crash which occurred on a straight after contact with Pedro Acosta.
The Italian rider acknowledged the considerable progress in circuit safety: “There have always been tremendous efforts to improve all the areas where we usually fall.” However, he tempered this: “A crash like this, due to contact on track, nobody expects it. Obviously, we’d have to build tracks in the middle of the desert, but we can’t. We can always try to do something, but well…”
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing rider, speaks after the Grand Prix.
Opening Lap Contacts: An Inevitable Part of MotoGP?
Regarding the first-corner collision during the restart, Marco Bezzecchi showed no animosity towards Johann Zarco. He knows perfectly well that such incidents can happen to anyone, having himself been involved in opening lap clashes. “The problem is that MotoGP bikes are very fast, you arrive very quickly, and everyone wants to try and do well. Two more places gained on the first lap can mean a lot, so it can happen,” he explained.
“It only takes a moment to make a mistake, it’s happened to everyone. It’s happened to me, and it’s really happened to everyone. Frankly, I find it hard to comment because I’ve made mistakes many times myself,” he added, showing great humility. “I put myself in Zarco’s shoes. He had the potential to get a good result, maybe his start wasn’t great, he tried to take a few extra risks and it didn’t pay off. But sometimes, it can work out brilliantly for us, like for Jorge [Martín] at Le Mans, for example. With these things, you need both skill and luck. Honestly, I don’t feel qualified to say anything.”
Reflections and Areas for Improvement
With 24 hours of hindsight, Marco Bezzecchi maintained a measured position regarding track safety. He expressed his intention to attend the safety commission at Mugello to discuss the events, while taking time for calm reflection. “We were all, and it’s normal, alarmed by the incidents that occurred, but it’s a normal track like any other,” he was keen to point out. “Perhaps we don’t always realise the risks we’re constantly taking, not just here.”
He recalled the intrinsic nature of their sport: “We know our sport is fantastic, we all love it, and riders most of all, but we know it’s a dangerous sport. Unfortunately, it was a coincidence, a chance occurrence, call it what you will, with the accidents that happened in the race. I don’t think it’s the track that isn’t safe.”
If there was one remark to be made, it would concern the grip: “The only thing I would try to improve is the grip, because that could also help our personal enjoyment when riding.” He did, however, specify that the track, resurfaced in 2018, was heavily used, leading to natural degradation of the asphalt. “Many tracks resurfaced that long ago work well. This one, clearly, is used a lot, and good for them, and the asphalt degrades a bit more.”
Key Takeaways from the Weekend
- Despite the severity of the crashes, the main riders involved escaped without serious injury.
- Flying debris poses a significant danger, even to riders not directly involved in a crash.
- Marco Bezzecchi praised his team’s work in maintaining a calm environment amidst the chaos.
- The Italian rider does not blame the Barcelona circuit but reiterates the inherent danger of MotoGP.
- Opening lap contact is considered an unavoidable part of the risk, involving a mix of performance and luck.
- Improving grip on certain tracks could potentially enhance safety and riding enjoyment.
[Di Giannantonio]
[des blessés]
[Di Giannantonio]
