Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti was not indifferent to the criticism that came after what was nevertheless a record. The kind of event that lent itself to celebration in the world before. But in today's world, deviating from a certain norm means burning cold water. Thus, when Johann Zarco reached 362,4 km/h on the Losail track, in a motorsport discipline whose idea is to go as quickly as possible, cries of horror about safety arose. rocketed. The Ducati was going too fast because of technical developments distorting not only the very concept of a motorcycle but also raising safety questions. Ciabatti responds.
Marc Marquez, from a factory stand Honda in the midst of a technical crisis, had hammered home the idea that a record top speed was more a cause for concern than celebration. In response, Paolo Ciabatti points out that the latest dramas experienced in the motorcycle Grand Prix were only remotely linked to the V-max: “ if you look at the accident that happened at Mugello, it happened with very light and not very fast motorcycles ", declared on speedweek the sporting director of Ducati Corse. “ Nevertheless, the fall had extremely disastrous consequences. That is why you shouldn't focus so much on top speed. Yes, we saw Zarco's exit in Doha. But he had a tailwind then missed the braking point at the end of the straight, and he escaped without damage ».
He also recalls: “ Brad Binder matched that speed with the KTM at Mugello. But I think that the danger in motorcycle racing comes from the dynamics of certain accidents, speed isn't really the deciding factor. Serious accidents occur when a pilot falls and subsequent pilots are unable to avoid him. Everyone knows that a collision with a human body can be fatal even at 50 or 60 km/h. Inertial forces on a motorcycle weighing more than 200 kg have significant effects and can cause a lot of damage. Even at low speed ».
Ciabatti: “ the risks are higher when 20 drivers ride close to each other«
And then there is also this factor: “ another danger is that if you fall, the motorcycle follows you exactly in the direction of the fall and can crush you against the barrier. The dangers have less to do with engine performance or top speed than with certain dynamics that cannot be avoided in motorcycle racing. In my opinion, the risks in Moto3 races are higher when 20 riders are riding close to each other. This was still clearly visible in the final laps of the Catalan Grand Prix ", remember Ciabatta.
He finishes : " when riders are racing wheel to wheel so closely and the bikes are all performing the same, it's dangerous. In Moto3 this danger comes up again and again because the groups ride so closely together and the bikes behave in ways that lead to these scary scenes. Sometimes in Moto3 it's just a matter of luck, whether you fall or stay in the saddle ».
Things to think about when seeing the board MotoGP tightened to the point that in qualifying, certain Moto3 scenes began to become the norm.
