MotoGP Catalonia: Jorge Lorenzo will not be penalized

The debate is closed even if the discussion will continue behind the scenes. The blissful optimism of five-time MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo at turn 10 of the second lap of the last Catalan Grand Prix will not be punished. It led not only to his fall, but also to the elimination of Andrea Dovizioso, Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales.

The Ducati official who lost big in the title race in this story had suggested a penalty in the name of fairness with the drivers in the intermediate categories for whom the officials often have a heavy hand. Maverick Vinales was sharper going in the same direction. But Valentino Rossi was more lenient. The officials have decided. For the benevolent interpretation of the Doctor.

Jorge Lorenzo will therefore not be punished by the FIM commissioners for having triggered the pileup at the start of the MotoGP race in Barcelona. It will be recalled that Lorenzo had lost control of his Honda in turn 10 of the second lap of the race. On the ground, his motorcycle then embarked on a fatal slide. Dovizioso, hit from behind, Casa Particular in Viñales, pushed aside, while Valentino Rossi was unable to avoid the RC213V mower by arriving at it at full speed after overtaking Petrucci.

However, penalties were imposed for the other falls this Sunday:  Can Öncü will thus have to give up six places on the starting grid during the next Moto3 race in Assen, because he eliminated three opponents in the fourth round in Barcelona. gabriel rodrigo will do the same after hitting Darryn binder. In MotoGP, Bradley Smith was sanctioned with a three-place grid penalty when he makes his next Grand Prix. The Englishman hit his teammate Aleix Espargaro in the first round and injured his knee.

All these sanctions were applied in accordance with paragraph 1.21.2 of the MotoGP sporting regulations. It states: “ Riders must drive in a responsible manner so as not to endanger other participants, both on the track and in the pit lane, and any violation of this rule may be punished by the FIM MotoGP stewards.".

The wording of this paragraph therefore specifies that the sports commissioners “may” punish. For other infractions, such as flag violations / 1.21.1, exceeding track limits / 1.21.3 or refueling during the race / 1.21.8, penalties are, however, mandatory.

The three FIM commissioners, in Barcelona, ​​i.e. the two Americans Freddie spencer (three-time motorcycle world champion), Bill Cumbow and German Ralph Bonhorst, could therefore give free rein to their interpretation on the case of Lorenzo. Thus, the accident of which he was the cause is officially declared a simple act of racing.