Through the longevity of his career, which is enhanced by the quality of his track record, Valentino Rossi is the living memory of the motorcycle Grand Prix. He has seen generations, machines and regulations come and go, as he has seen the constant effort made in terms of safety. The equipment has taken a leap forward, the race management has looked into the subject and the routes have taken into account the requirements of a race with motorcycles. There is always more to do. The Doctor makes his diagnosis…
It seems to have become a banality, but it is a real technical feat. Which would have been a miracle only a few years ago. A rider who falls at more than 300 km/h from a MotoGP before getting up and returning to his box on his feet is not at all trivial. Physically, the man will be affected, but he will not have any serious injury and will be able to continue his journey with gritted teeth. A lesser evil!
Valentino Rossi gives his expertise on the journey since his own beginnings on motogp.com: “ I think we have been working very hard on this issue with the Safety Commission since 2003. Above all, we have managed to increase safety on the slopes themselves. The same goes for equipment. Many protective measures are now obligatory, such as, for example, the airbag or the breastplate. »
At the start of the 2018 season, airbags in the racing suit, across all classes, were made mandatory. Rossi also notes: “ the quality of helmets has improved, including boots, if you compare it to the 1990s. But from my point of view, we can make the biggest difference on the circuits. »
He explains the action to be taken as follows: “ we are working to have more run-off areas everywhere, no matter which route we are talking about. A lot of money is spent on it, but it is also extremely important. Because it's still a very dangerous sport. It would be stupid not to do everything humanly possible for safety. »
Even regarding the conditions on site, the race management takes the opinions of the drivers and their safety concerns very seriously. In 2019, qualifications for Phillip Island were canceled Saturday due to excessive wind gusts. The race to Brno was postponed shortly before departure due to a downpour.
However, work remains and one of the thorniest questions is posed by the straight line of the Mugello with its bump tackled at dizzying speeds…
