A Ducati rider's plea for 'penalty fear' after Thai MotoGP sprint clash
The Thai MotoGP sprint race witnessed a heated exchange between VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez, with the former demanding a 'fear of huge penalties' to prevent similar incidents. The clash occurred during the 13-lap Buriram sprint, where the satellite Ducati duo were vying for fourth position.
Gresini's Alex Marquez attempted to outbrake Fabio Di Giannantonio on the inside of Turn 3, but had to navigate around Raul Fernandez's Aprilia, forcing both Ducati riders to take a wider path. Di Giannantonio's frustration was palpable, as the pair finished in 8th and 11th places, respectively.
The FIM stewards deemed the incident a racing incident typical of a bunched pack at the start, taking no action. However, Di Giannantonio believes riders must possess a 'fear' of harsh punishment to avoid similar situations in the future.
"I was fourth and did my braking," Di Giannantonio explained to the official MotoGP website. "I was trying to maintain my line, but a high-pitched noise and the sight of Alex approaching at high speed prompted me to lift the bike and wait for his line. Both lines were quite outside the track.
"I believe the race direction can effectively manage these situations. The first strong corner after a start where riders arrive together is the most dangerous moment of the race or weekend. We've experienced numerous high-speed crashes, resulting in injuries. To prevent such incidents, we must respect other riders and fear the potential penalties for disasters.
"This should apply to all riders. I'm confident we can work with the race direction to address this issue, as these situations are detrimental to the spectacle of the sport."
Marquez, on the other hand, felt he had no choice but to release the brakes at Turn 3, as Di Giannantonio was closing the racing line on his outside. "It was unfortunate," he said. "I had a good start and was side by side with DiGia at the braking point. He decided to defend his position from the outside, closing the line on me. Raul was inside, so I couldn't react. I released the brakes to avoid an even worse situation."
This incident highlights the need for riders to exercise caution and respect for one another, coupled with a sense of fear for the consequences of their actions, to ensure the safety and spectacle of MotoGP racing.
