Austin MotoGP: Incidents, Safety Commission, tougher sanctions and reactions…

Like every Friday evening before a Grand Prix, the safety commission met behind closed doors to discuss the various problems in progress.

Obviously, the one held in Austin was of particular importance, after a series of incidents and controversies born in Argentina which required at least an adjustment and a toughening of the policy of sanctions inflicted by the commissioners of the FIM. As a reminder, Race Direction is not involved when it comes to imposing penalties on riders for infractions of the regulations. The disciplinary body responsible for imposing penalties is the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards College composed of the Race Director (representing the IRTA) and two FIM Stewards appointed by the FIM and approved by the Permanent Bureau.

Bringing together the majority of MotoGP riders alongside Carmelo Ezpeleta, the big boss of Dorna, Carlos Ezpeleta et Loris Capirossi, members of the Race Direction, the press is excluded so that everyone can express themselves freely without seeing their comments reported or distorted.

However, with such a number of participants, it is almost impossible to keep what was said secret, and, apart from a small altercation between Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez (see here), most of the comments seem to have resulted in a clear turn of the screw regarding any behavior that bothers other pilots.

Marc Marquez paid the price from Saturday (excessively in our opinion. He was undoubtedly made to pay for his Argentinian behavior), just like Pol Espargaro (see here).

Asked about the subject at a press conference, the Honda driver initially took it in a relaxed manner…

“Unfortunately, I was leaving the box and I expected no one to follow me. And suddenly, I heard a motor because I was more focused on Iannone (in front of him) than on what was coming behind. When I heard the engine, I got out as fast as I could, but yeah, it seems like I got in the way of (Maverick Vinales') lap. I had this sanction, but hey (laughing), I can't say anything more: I had this watch (given with pole position) and I did the best lap. Tomorrow it will be the race.”

He is then asked for his opinion on the toughening of sanctions. The smile disappears...

“Overall, they said the sanctions would be tougher and I already checked that today (laughs). It's like that. Before, it was warnings, and now, no more warnings, nothing, only sanctions. If it’s the same rules for everyone, I agree.”

Do you agree with the sanction taken today?

“Overall, yes. Like I said, I was watching Iannone more because I didn't want to drag him out. I didn't expect Maverick to arrive and when I heard his engine, I got out very quickly but I got in his way.”

But on the fairness of the sanction taken?

“Yes, they said I was in its path. And that's why (I was sanctioned) while Iannone was not on the trajectory. I never do it, but this time, yes, I was on it.”

Will this change your behavior tomorrow?

“I’ve said it before: my style is my style! But that doesn't mean people are wrong. I want to learn from my mistakes. That's what I said in Argentina, there were some mistakes and I want to learn, and I don't want to make them again. But my style remains my style! »

For its part, Andrea Iannone felt that too much time was wasted talking about this but that he would always continue to do what was best for him, while Maverick Vinales did not want to comment on the subject, except to declare: “I think it’s hard to ask for more. Everyone has the same sanctions, from the first to the last. These are the same criteria for everyone, whether in Moto3, Moto2 or MotoGP.”

To finish on the subject, the pilots present at the Safety Commission seem to have been informed that they would receive an e-mail asking them what sanctions should be applied in different cases.

The drivers, in turn, requested that a former driver be named among the FIM commissioners called upon to decide on sanctions, but this does not seem to be a foregone conclusion...