Aleix Espargaró believes there have been too many accidents and injuries in the first part of the 2023 MotoGP season and calls for changes to the Grand Prix format.
By Luigi Ciamburro de Motoracing
Aleix Espargaró, a rider very attentive to safety issues, has criticized the new MotoGP format from day one. In particular, many drivers criticized the fact that the first free practice session on Friday was crucial for access to Q2. Dorna tried to change the regulations, but was vetoed by Ducati and we will therefore have to wait until 2024. There is little room to study the correct setting of the bike, the Sprint race requires you to push from the first to the last lap, and the rhythms of the weekends are hectic. As a result, the number of falls and injuries is increasing.
13 of the 22 regular drivers (exactly 59,09%) have already had physical problems in the current season, 7 (and therefore 31,82%) have already missed at least one race. The number of accidents is impressive: during the first eight Grands Prix, there were 116 accidents in the MotoGP category alone. An average of nearly 21 falls per weekend, compared to an average of 16,7 falls last year.
The list of drivers injured in the first part of the World Championship is long. So, Pol Espargaro after the Portimao crash, forced to miss the entire first part of the season due to numerous fractures and a pulmonary contusion. Enea Bastianini, who crashed during the Sprint race at Portimao, fracturing his right shoulder blade, thus missing the next four Grands Prix. During the same weekend, Marc Marquez suffered a fracture of the right first metacarpal, missing three meetings afterwards. In addition, during the Sachsenring warm-up, he broke his left thumb, also regretting a bruised right ankle and a fractured rib, missing the last two races on Sunday. Miguel Oliveira suffered tendon injuries at Portimao and missed a Grand Prix. At Jerez he suffered another injury and missed another Grand Prix.
Aleix Espargaró: “ it can't be that two or three drivers end up in hospital at every Grand Prix »
George Martin broke his right foot in Portimao. Joan mir in the Sprint race in Argentina reported head and neck trauma missing the main race. Still in P2 at Mugello, he suffered a finger injury and bruised his right hand, losing three Grands Prix. Alex Marquez in Austin complained of a torn hamstring and strained hamstring ligaments, but did not miss any races. Pecco Bagnaia recovered from an ankle injury after Le Mans, fortunately without any time off. Same fate for Luca Marini, injured in the right carpus.
alex rins at Mugello suffered fractures to his right tibia and fibula and had to withdraw until the summer break. fabio quartararo in Assen reported bruises to his left elbow and hand, but fortunately without missing a Grand Prix. During the summer break, Jorge Martin et Fabio DiGiannantonio found themselves in the operating room.
There is a lot of talk about this issue within the Security Committee, but finding a common solution is not always easy. Aleix Espargaró did not mince his words: “ At the current pace of the championship, it cannot continue like this. It can't be that two or three drivers end up in hospital at every Grand Prix. I hope there will be changes soon “, said the Aprilia rider. “ I don't know how the other drivers will behave, but I will continue to do my best for our safety ". From the next MotoGP championship, P1 will no longer count for direct entry into Q2, but this will certainly not be enough to reduce the number of accidents.
