Let's talk MotoGP: What you didn't see during the Bagnaia/Marquez crash

One day after the fact, everyone is talking about nothing else. Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, who between them have eight world titles in MotoGP, touched each other. Since then, social networks have been on fire; several pilots gave their opinion, as well as the two main ones concerned. The sports commissioners, for their part, plead the racing incident. What is it really? Who is responsible for this action? Let's dissect it all together.

 

The verdict

 

No need to prolong the suspense any longer. In my opinion, the fault is completely shared between the two and therefore, not assigning a penalty to one or the other is the right decision. It's 50/50, a real racing fact as often happens. I am aware, like you no doubt, that there is so much talk because they are two of the best drivers in the world. If it had been about Luca Marini passing Raul Fernandez, I doubt the crowd would have cried foul.

From my humble analysis, the web rather defends Marc Marquez, wishing to attribute to Pecco a motivation which was not his. Also because Marc was on the outside, and in proportion, those who are on the inside have an easier time hitting him than the other way around. But what do the images say about all this? That's all that counts, with the opinion of the only legitimate body, namely the race direction. The images are worth more than any testimony from a former pilot, legend or not.

 

 

Firstly, and this has been brought up almost nowhere, it is Marc Marquez who makes a muscular overtake on Bagnaia, and it is Marc Marquez who veers wide, too deep to be able to keep the rope. His overtaking was unsuccessful, his judgment was erroneous. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left so much space inside. This does not give Pecco Bagnaia the right to hit him, that goes without saying.

 

 

But Bagnaia is legitimate to transplant inside. I don't understand what his form at this point in the race has to do with the debate. He was slower, and therefore had to give way because he would have lost it no matter what? That's not how it works.

This rather particular turn, with two apex points, pushes the drivers to break their trajectory as much as possible to benefit from better acceleration on exit. Bagnaia sees the door open, and he rushes in. Hardly, of course, but according to the rules. Marquez also does not want to let himself be deported, for the risk of missing the second rope point. The two players touch each other and fall. Running.

 

 

If you're not convinced by this explanation, let me ask you a question. Taking the fall out of the equation – in the scenario where Marc Marquez gets back up – do you think Bagnaia's move inside was more ferocious than the attempt to blockpass by Marc Marquez?

 

No penalty(ies)?

 

I'm not going to dwell on this subject, because it doesn't deserve it. A penalty, but for whom? Both didn't score any points, that's already more than enough. For once, we must admit that the race management made the right decision. Let's not hinder the development of a season which promises to be spectacular with penalties that are as useless as they are dishonorable, starting in the second round. Given what happened in Formula 1 a little earlier, we are very happy that this remains fair and square.

For some, it was a matter of ego. However, I completely refute this fallacious argument, but for that, I will meet you in " Let's talk MotoGP » to know, the second part you can find by clicking on this highlighted sentence.

Tell me what you thought of this incident in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport