Ducati factory rider Bastianini has provoked mixed reactions following his aggressive overtake on Jorge Martin on the final lap of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Misano. The decisive move saw him win the race but sparked debate over the legitimacy of the move, with opinions divided among riders and officials.
George Martin, the championship leader, led the race for 27 laps, fending off relentless attacks from bastianini. However, in the last round, bastianini propelled his Ducati factory inside Martin at turn 4. The two men made contact, and Martin was pushed off-piste. bastianini also passed the kerb to take the lead, but continued to maintain his advantage to cross the finish line five seconds ahead.
Marc Marquez, who finished third after the fall of Francis Bagnaia in the 21st round, commented on the situation with some frustration. I saw a rerun ", did he declare. " Enea was also off-piste. So, for me, it's not good for the championship, given our interests. » Marquez stressed that, according to him, bastianini should have lost his position, because he too left the track during the overtaking. When you're doing an aggressive pass, when you're on the inside of the track, it's not a problem. But when you go off track, it means you have to lose a position »
"I was a bit on the limit with the front but in the end I closed the corner" @ Bestia23 talks through the last lap move 🎙️#EmiliaRomagnaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/k0dbK4t2fx
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) September 22, 2024
Commissioners rule in favour of Bastianini
The commissioners decided to not to investigate the manoeuvre, considering that the excess was within the limits of the regulations. This decision has sparked mixed reactions. Although Martin accepted the situation with sportiness in the closed park, he clearly expressed his disagreement, considering that the movement of bastianini was too aggressive and deserved a sanction.
Simon Crafar, future commissioner and former pilot, shed some interesting light on this incident. I would have been angry if I had been the victim... Personally, I loved it! It was a really tough race! » Crafar defended the importance of maintaining a certain aggressiveness in races, particularly on the slower sections of the circuit where run-offs help to minimise risks. If the commissioners remove this and make it illegal to overtake on the slowest, safest part, where there are run-offs, then we harm the race. »
And he makes this essential distinction: “ as a driver you can make a successful overtake on the slowest part, push the guy off, but not knock him down »
With this victory, Aeneas bastianini took a one-point lead in the championship over Marc Marquez, and also comes close to George Martin et Pecco Bagnaia. Although this maneuver has divided, it underlines the intensity of the competition and the high stakes of each race, especially at this end of the season when every point counts.
The exceeding of bastianini à Misano will undoubtedly remain one of the highlights of the 2024 season. While it provided a thrilling spectacle for spectators, it also reignited the debate on the limits of maneuvers in races. Opinions differ on how to handle these situations, with those advocating greater tolerance for the spectacle and those calling for strict enforcement of the rules to ensure safety and fairness. Either way, the Asian tour promises to be an exciting one, with riders determined to give their all for the world title.
MotoGP, Misano 2, : race ranking
