In MotoGP, there is a figure imposed by gravity which is feared more than all the others and it is the “highside”. It occurs after a kick from the motorcycle which catapults the rider into the air. But this one, inevitably, falls back and very hard on an asphalt little known for absorbing shocks... The kind of accident which especially affects Honda drivers lately, but the testimonies collected show to what extent this moment is feared.
Testimonies found on Todocircuito and they are quite poignant for some. We start with fabio quartararo which states: “ This is the most dangerous crash you can have in MotoGP. Once I landed on my feet and broke both bones ". Veterans also remember, like Randy Mamola : “ it happens so fast you just hope you don't fly off the bike. You then look like a cartoon character trying to grab onto something », he describes.
But this apprehension concerns all drivers in all categories. So, John McGuinness, the British road racing legend, is another driver who knows the highside well: “ there's no way to sweeten a highside. Horrible, horrible. Waiting for impact is the worst while you're flying through the air “, he said poignantly.
A “highside” sends you towards the moon. It's not funny
The King of the Mountain remembers the moment his hip broke: “ The worst was when I broke my hip at Oulton Park, it was an amateur fall. I went up in the air, I landed on my hip, I broke my femur, it was nasty! I have three large screws in my hip that remind me of this every day. It's like a toothache in winter », judging that “ the race is not safe » and that it is not even safe with the “ airbag technologies ».
Aleix Espargaró also suffered from it throughout his long career: “ you can do a highside quite easily, especially if the track is quite slippery. The worst is when you fall in the middle of the track and a motorcycle hits you. In this case it is difficult to protect the drivers ».
Jack Miller also went through this, during the Malaysian Grand Prix: “ it sends you towards the moon. It's not funny. When you get up from the saddle, you immediately feel the airbag deploy as you fly through the air upside down...It gives you a little relief that there's something between you and the asphalt when you hit ».
