Barcelona, a Sunday Under High Tension
Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi wasn’t the most talked-about protagonist of a somber Sunday at the Catalunya Grand Prix. Yet, like all his colleagues, he was deeply affected by the two horrific accidents that marred the day. While Álex Márquez and Johann Zarco fortunately avoided the worst, concern was palpable throughout the paddock. “It wasn’t a great day,” admitted Bezzecchi, his face still showing the impact of the events. “I sincerely hope they are okay, especially Álex, who had the most violent crash. If everyone is alright, it means we were blessed, because the first crash, in particular, was a big, big accident.”
Despite his more distant position (13th at the time of the impact), Bezzecchi wasn’t spared the direct consequences. Debris from Álex Márquez’s Ducati, which was literally pulverized, hit his bike. “I was quite far back and got hit by some pieces,” he testified. “I don’t dare imagine what it must have been like for those closer, like Diggia for example. Put yourselves in our shoes: you see 2,000 pieces coming at you! And even then, I was far away, but imagine Fabio
who got the fork with the whole tire. We can say it was…”
The remains of Álex Márquez’s bike after his violent crash.
Aprilia’s Crucial Support Amidst the Chaos
Beyond the shock of the images, Marco Bezzecchi highlighted the importance of his Aprilia team’s support in navigating this ordeal. Amidst the emotional turmoil, his pit crew managed to create a bubble of calm. “I have to thank my team because I think they handled the situation very well in the garage,” he explained. “In this chaos, they managed to create a comfort zone for me. It wasn’t easy, but they gave me all the help possible. Fortunately, when we’re on the bike, it’s like being in our own comfort zone, us riders.”
Unlike Fabio Di Giannantonio, who injured his left hand from debris and had to miss the following day’s test, or his compatriot Pecco Bagnaia, nursing a left wrist injury after colliding with Zarco, Bezzecchi came through the weekend without a scratch. “In the misfortune of all these episodes, I was quite lucky because they were all in front of me,” he concluded, acknowledging his own good fortune amidst the collective mishap.
Track Safety: An Endless Debate
Struck by the violence of the events, Marco Bezzecchi did not immediately seek culprits on race day. Far from blaming the Barcelona circuit, he preferred to emphasize the inherent danger of MotoGP, tinged with a certain realism regarding the discipline’s unpredictability. “Nobody could have imagined an accident like that, given how these bikes are ridden, and also how crashes usually happen, which is in the corners,” he recalled, referring to Álex Márquez’s crash that occurred on a straight after contact with Pedro Acosta.
The Italian rider acknowledged the considerable progress in track safety: “There have always been tremendous efforts to improve all the areas where we usually fall.” However, he qualified: “A crash like this, due to contact on track, nobody expects it. Obviously, we’d have to build tracks in the middle of the desert, but we can’t. We can always try to do something, but well…”
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing rider, speaks after the Grand Prix.
First-Lap Contact: An Inevitable Part of MotoGP?
Regarding the first-corner incident during the restart, Marco Bezzecchi showed no animosity towards Johann Zarco. He knows perfectly well that such incidents can happen to anyone, having himself been involved in start-line collisions. “The problem is that MotoGP bikes are very fast, we arrive very quickly, and everyone wants to try and do well. Two more places gained on the first lap can mean a lot, so it can happen,” he explained.
“It only takes a moment to make a mistake; it’s happened to everyone. It’s happened to me, and it’s really happened to everyone. Frankly, I find it hard to comment because I’ve also made mistakes many times,” he added, showing great humility. “I put myself in Zarco’s shoes. He had the potential to get a good result, maybe his start wasn’t great, he tried to take a few more risks, and it didn’t work out for him. But sometimes, it can work out really well for us, like for Jorge [Martín] at Le Mans, for example. With these things, you need to be good and have luck. Honestly, I don’t feel qualified to say anything.”
Reflections and Areas for Improvement
With 24 hours of hindsight, Marco Bezzecchi maintained a measured stance regarding track safety. He expressed his intention to attend the safety commission at Mugello to discuss the events, while taking time for calm reflection. “We were all, and it’s normal, alarmed by the episodes that occurred, but it’s a normal track like any other,” he stressed. “Perhaps we don’t always realize the risks we’re constantly taking, not just here.”
He recalled the intrinsic nature of their sport: “We know our sport is fantastic, we all love it, especially the riders, but we know it’s a dangerous sport. Unfortunately, it was a coincidence, a chance occurrence, call it what you will, with the accidents that happened during the race. I don’t think the track itself is unsafe.”
If there was one remark he would make, it would concern grip: “The only thing I would try to improve is the grip, because it could also help our personal enjoyment when we’re riding.” He did, however, specify that the track, resurfaced in 2018, is heavily used, leading to natural asphalt degradation. “Many tracks resurfaced around the same time also work well. This one, clearly, is used a lot, and good for them, and the asphalt degrades a bit more.”
Key Takeaways from the Weekend
- Despite the severity of the accidents, the main riders involved escaped serious injury.
- Flying debris poses a significant danger, even to riders not directly involved in a crash.
- Marco Bezzecchi praised his team’s efforts in maintaining a calm environment amidst the chaos.
- The Italian rider does not blame the Barcelona circuit but highlights the inherent dangers of MotoGP.
- First-lap contact is seen as an unavoidable part of the risk, involving a mix of performance and luck.
- Improving grip on certain tracks could potentially enhance both safety and riding enjoyment.
[Di Giannantonio]
[des blessés]
[Di Giannantonio]
