Last weekend, we attended a Grand Prix that was strange to say the least. This event, fortunately without drama, still raises questions. So let's put all these questions together and try to explain.
1) The pilots' strike: Legitimate?
It was the hot topic just a week ago, which divided the fan community but also the paddock. Should we strike? Without a doubt.
As a reminder, strikes are commonplace in the history of motor sports. Most of the time this is linked to poor track conditions (Misano 1989 by motorbike), or the poor treatment of pilots by the organization itself (Kyalami 1982 in Formula 1). Regardless, these actions are still legitimate. The drivers are the only ones who can judge the performance of the race. They must supersede race management and above all the opinion of the fans. However, in Austin, everyone seemed to more or less agree that the circuit was too dangerous (drivers like Jorge Lorenzo have been complaining about it since 2013), but the race still started.
Bitumen is a big problem in USA, and many circuits are unsuitable. In this sense, it is regrettable that the pilots contested the Grand Prix, failing to protest once and for all against the authorities.
Aleix Espargaro and Joan Mir, reigning world champion, should have held on and not started, just as the rest of the field should have supported them. This is not a problem of cowardice: Kenny Roberts, until proven otherwise, was not a coward and yet he is at the origin of numerous safety-related strikes. But ultimately, by still competing in the race, the drivers weakened against the Dorna.
Comparisons with the Tourist trophy, used far too often, have no reason to be. Let's not compare apples and pears. These are two completely different sports where the issues, the players, the importance are not the same.
Aleix était l’un des plus virulents, mais il a tout de même pris le départ. Une grève est-elle “contractuellement” possible en 2021 ? Photo : Michelin Motorsport
2) Is Jack Miller inconsistent?
After the tragic death of Dean Berta Vinales A few weeks ago, Jack Miller called for “changes”. However, the Australian was the first to request that the race be held despite the (proven) deplorable state of the COTA track. On the contrary, Miller could have sided with the Espargaró brothers and Mir, because once again, their complaints were legitimate.
We have heard, many times, that the “young riders need to move towards something safer” categories. Yes it is certain. But this begins with the premier category which, through its influence, sets the tone for all the others. There
MotoGP is the showcase of motorcycle sport, so this involves making developments at the highest level and the whole sport will benefit from it.
3) Did Deniz Öncü deserve such a penalty?
The Moto3 race was chaotic. The race management, which this year is not being talked about for the right reasons, has missed a lot of things. Fortunately, by some miracle, all the drivers are still here to tell the story of these last loops.
The main accident involving four drivers including the championship leader Peter Acosta is simple to explain. Öncü zigzags in the straight line and catches the wheel of
Jeremy Alcove. However, this penalty remains disproportionate.
In fact, the race management judged the consequence and not the act. If there had been no fall, no one would have been penalized. This is not the first time that a pilot has been called to order for this behavior, particularly visible at
Aragon and Losail. But similar penalties had never been awarded. But this is a serious error: If we want more security, we must heavily sanction whatever happens and not wait for a tragedy. Deniz undergoes an “exemplary sentence”, exceptional, but not necessarily justified in view of the antecedents.
4) Did Joan Mir and Jorge Martín deserve a sanction?
Two questions in one. First of all, George
Martín. It's a safe bet that no one, from the industry or not, can explain their penalty. The images speak for themselves: The Spanish driver had already lost enough time going off the track. This decision is, like everything else in the Grand Prix, very strange.
Joan mir, after a muscular attack on
Jack Miller, also received a sanction. Difficult to understand why. Certainly, the attack is incisive, but neither rider falls, gets hurt or sees his bike damaged. If the Dorna blame that, why not blame the actions of Marc Márquez in Austria or those of Miller in Qatar, on Mir!
More than the decision, it is the inconsistency that is the subject of debate. Let us now hope that each contact of this type will therefore be sanctioned in order to
to establish justice.
On top of that, Marquez won in a race that held little suspense. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Is that all for these four questions? What did you think of the Grand Prix? Tell us in the comments, all will be read!
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
