With race direction in Grand Prix, everything comes in time for those who know how to wait. Thus, its highest representative Mike Webb waited until Misano to officially shed light on why, two weeks earlier, in Austria, Jorge Martin was sanctioned for having barely bitten a green part of the track while, a few minutes later, Pol Espargaró was not, as he came back full force on the track after having strayed very far from it. A difference in treatment between Moto2 and MotoGP? Nope. But rather the application of a strict principle…
Affected by the Coronavirus, George Martin can continue to brood over his downgrade in a Styrian Moto2 Grand Prix that he thought he had won until parc ferme. There he learned that he was second, because, for a few centimeters, he had bitten on the green part of the track. He was therefore outside of it.
Meanwhile, the boss of the troops Suzuki on the ground that is Davide Brivio is still furious at not having seen Pol Espargaro also sanctioned at the finish of the MotoGP race. In this case, he would have given up his third place to Joan mir. And there, for once, the excursion off the track had the air of hiking in its scale.
Two facts which fueled a general discontent which gained importance during the two meetings at the Red Bull Ring. The commissioners took it for their ranks. And their legitimacy and their discernment clearly called into question by the pilots.
In Misano, Mike webb answered questions from the press during the special conference that the Race Direction called after the controversies of the last Grand Prix. A conference which wanted to remove some doubts and in which Webb clarified that all drivers who drive on the green zone in the last lap will be penalized, unless he suffers a clear disadvantage and a loss of time during these track exits.
“We are very satisfied with every decision taken by the stewards”
It's all about this nuance: putting both wheels on the green track and not losing time there means a penalty. If one of the wheels still touches the white line, it means the driver is moving within the limits of the track, so there is no penalty. In the event of leaving the track with a clear disadvantage and a loss of time, there will be no penalty.
« It's very clear »Insists Webb. " If you are dueling and going over the track limits, you should have a distinct disadvantage. Jorge Martin was out, very clearly. We have very clear images of it ", said Webb. " This is simply a logical consequence of the criteria: in the final lap, in a close position battle, he was not at a disadvantage, that's why there was the change of position. The stewards make their decision, but it is based on one basis. There is no controversy ».
« We are very satisfied with every decision made by the stewards in Austria. They were correct according to the tests and the rules ", has explained Webb, who referred to the most controversial action of the weekend, that of the finish in MotoGP: “ Pol Espargaró lost a position, it's a clear disadvantage. He doesn't lose five places for that, he loses the place he was fighting for. The decision was correct ". And too bad if, by resuming full throttle, he protects himself from the rise of Joan Mir. Which he could never have done if there had been grass instead...
Urban artist Mike webb admitted that Race Direction has much more detailed images than those broadcast on television, with which they make decisions regarding sanctions. High-speed cameras with “image recognition” software are available at all critical “runway boundary” points. During the press conference, the possibility of sharing these images and avoiding unnecessary controversy was discussed. To be continued, but Davide Brivio will remain inconsolable...
