In the Moto3 category, seeing races contested with four or six riders abreast no longer surprises us, just as it no longer surprises us to count 25 overtakes in the same lap, nor count 10 riders in the same second at the finish.
This is how it is today, and this category is very spectacular, if it has anything to do with it. worry even the most seasoned like Valentino Rossi, offers specificities and an unparalleled spectacle, as well as, overall, a great mastery of these young pilots constantly on the razor's edge.
On the other hand, what surprised us the day after the Catalan Grand Prix, this is the final classification which not only is no longer the same as that which we published a few seconds after the protagonists crossed the finish line, but presents a singular particularity: 10 drivers in less than a second , Roman Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) 11th at 3 seconds… and all the others one lap away, in an order not corresponding to the passage on the line!
However, we saw clearly Yuki Kunii (Honda Tean Asia), Daniel Holgado (CIP – Green Power), Elia Bartolini (Avintia Esponsorama) and Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert Pruestel GP) finish the race in front Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse), approximately 10 seconds from Romano Fenati...
What happened ?
As the final lap approaches, the leader Jeremy Alcove (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) gets up and deliberately slows down the pace so as not to start the straight in the lead. We know the phenomenon of suction with these light motorcycles, and whoever enters the straight line first is almost guaranteed to be overtaken. Darryn binder (Petronas Sprinta) nevertheless stuck to it by starting the last lap in the lead and, indeed, passed the first turn after the straight in 10th position.
In the last round, Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who was in the leading group of 15 riders a few seconds earlier, fell losing control of his KTM at turn 8 just ahead Kaito Toba (CIP – Green Power). The two Leopard Racing drivers, Dennis Foggia et Xavier Artigas, are the collateral victims of this incident. Meanwhile, the other drivers complete the remaining six turns and cross the finish line, Sergio García (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) in the lead in front Jeremy Alcove et Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Tech3).
Ayumu Sasaki not getting up immediately at turn 8, the red flags are waved while the leading group of 10 drivers in less than a second, as well as Roman Fenati three seconds later, have already crossed the finish line.
Why ?
Honestly, we can ask ourselves the question, because at that moment all the drivers in the races had already passed turn 8. Either they had already crossed the finish line, or they were about to do so, in the last part of the circuit.
However, we can put forward the hypothesis of the need to bring a medical vehicle onto the track while the drivers were doing their victory lap, without any image to confirm this. We can also of course think of a precautionary reaction, after the unfortunate death that occurred a week earlier...
The results ?
Article 1.25.1 of the regulations is clear: in the event of interruption of the race with the red flag after the finish of the race, the drivers who have already crossed the finish line retain their classification, the others are classified according to their position in the previous round. Hence this one-lap gap with reality noted in the official ranking.
In the end, only the rookie Daniel Holgado is concretely penalized by the application of the regulations, having crossed the line in 13th position while he finally finds himself classified 15th. On the contrary, Elia Bartolini et Ryusei Yamanaka win a place and a point in the operation.
Conclusion?
Fortunately, such a race rarely happens, and if it disadvantages some, it benefits others. It's always regrettable but the ideal solution does not exist.
Perhaps, and arguably more importantly, the attitude of
Jeremy Alcove, deliberately slowing down the lead of the race so as not to enter the straight line first on the last lap, is an unfortunate precedent: at the moment when Moto3 qualifying is now reduced to a single lap, a phenomenon that is unfortunately beginning also seen in MotoGP, we would not like to see a 21-lap race reduced to a strategy of slowing down in the penultimate lap...
The race management and the panel of FIM MotoGP stewards are well aware of the current drift of Moto3 riders. Yet another meeting awaits them at the Sachsenring, but it will undoubtedly take much more to stem this current trend which clearly favors strategy more than performance and tarnishes the magnificent spectacle that is offered to us!
Credit for rankings and photos: MotoGP.com
