This is one of the facts which animated the crazy MotoGP qualifying on an overheated Saturday on the Brno track: Pol Espargaró had his second time canceled which put him in the same place on the starting grid for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic, because, during his fast lap, the yellow flag had been displayed in a sector where Cal Crutchlow had crashed. The KTM official was unable to see the distant trackside signs while he was in full effort. Hence his anger and his feeling of injustice, even mentioning a poorly done job on the part of the officials. The one who caused the scandal, in this case Cal Crutchlow, gives his opinion…
This is the new rule that is in force: when a pilot falls and the yellow flag is deployed, current quick tours are canceled. A formula in force in Formula 1 which however benefits from better signage, with illuminated signs for example. But in MotoGP, we play it the old-fashioned way, with the man waving a flag.
Pol Espargaro has not seen it and he is in good faith. Cal Crutchlow, who was the cause of this yellow flag explains: “ I think as far as Pol is concerned, it's disappointing for him. I crashed and ruined his qualifying, but unfortunately that's life and those are the rules ».
« I had it earlier in one of the sessions, I had a lap time canceled because I never saw the yellow flag in the same corner. It's so hard to go around, you push, you see your sectors are up, you're on a better lap and suddenly someone crashed and it's not your fault and your lap is canceled ».
“The commissioners are doing an excellent job”
« So ultimately, I honestly think it could make qualifying more… not dangerous, we have to be careful of the word “dangerous”, but it could make it a lot riskier. At the start of the session, all the guys are going to go out like crazy to make sure they are on the right times straight away. But it spoils the show. They want to see the last laps, with the fastest laps on the last laps when there are no more seconds and they are not going to see that with the yellow flag ».
« Now I completely understand the situation of someone who has fallen in the gravel and another bike or another rider comes very quickly, I have been involved in accidents like that and it is not good. But we race the bike and we understand the risks ».
« The marshals do a great job and the way they do it with a guy spotting etc… it's hard to say they know the risks too. But at the end of the day, they are very professional in that sense as well.
He finishes : " I don't really agree 100% with the rule. I understand that in the end it can be difficult if someone is injured, obviously. Now we have to respect the yellow flag, maybe in this sector we are losing a little time. But if Pol was half a second below his own time, in this sector he could have lost two or three tenths in this corner, this means that he is still two tenths from his own best time and he can continue this round instead of abandoning the whole round ". Certainly, but we still have to agree to slow down…
