During his 25 years in motorsport grand prix racing, Valentino Rossi has been in many dangerous situations.
But the Italian described the aftermath of Sunday’s Austrian MotoGP crash between Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli as the worst moment of his career.
As the pair pinned at nearly 300 km / h, their bikes were unleashed rockets heading in front of the riders ahead, negotiating over the slow Turn 3 right hand.
Zarco’s Ducati slammed into an airplane before flying over the track in front of Maverick Vinales, while Morbidelli’s 157kg bike – in scenes few are likely to forget – miraculously swayed through a small gap between Vinales and Rossi’s sisters Yamahas.
“I think Valentino Rossi is the happiest man in the world. I saw the bike jump right over his head,” said Brad Binder of KTM.
Rossi knew immediately how close he had been to disaster, put his hands on his head as he parked outside the Monster Yamaha pits and visibly shocked as he sat waiting to restart.
An understandable shake @ ValeYellow46…#AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/UB0fdyx0TG
– MotoGP (@MotoGP) August 16, 2020
“It was so scary. It was scary,” Rossi said after the race. “We have to pray to someone, everyone has to pray to whomever he decides. But, f ** k. I feel bad. I was scared, very. Because today was very dangerous.”
The nine-time world champion acknowledged that it was “very difficult” to go back and concentrate for the restart, but “in the end I have no choice. Because I do not want anyone to say ‘ciao’ and go home. That i have to start over.
“You do not try to think about it, but it is very difficult, and even now it is not easy. I have already talked to my girlfriend, she is devastated! But I have not talked to my mother and Graziano. Now I will they call for sure. Especially Graziano. “
Indeed, both @YamahaMotoGP riders avoid being hit by the crashed bikes! #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/yw7qeWkkUg
– MotoGP (@MotoGP) August 16, 2020
Rossi finished in fifth place as the top Yamaha after the restart, then – like VR46 Academy rider Morbidelli – somewhat strong words for Zarco when interviewed on Italian TV: “Zarco picked up Morbidelli immediately and then did not want to be caught by Franco in the break, so he went specifically for him to brake.
“Race direction needs Zarco to take something seriously, as he knocked out Pol Espargaró in the last race, even if he could have prevented the accident.”
After hearing those remarks, Zarco held a private meeting with Rossi to discuss what had happened and assure the # 46 that he had done nothing deliberate.
While Zarco felt that Rossi understood his version of events, the Italian is still of the opinion that the Ducati rider ‘braked in the face’ of Morbidelli and called for greater respect between riders in all classes.
“Well, everyone is very aggressive in MotoGP, even in the small classes. I can understand that, but for me it’s important that we do not exaggerate. [the risks]”Rossi said.
“You have to respect the other riders, because we can not forget that this sport is very dangerous. Especially in a track where you have long rights and you always go at 300 km / h.
“What I said is that even the small classes have a lot of riders who close the door in the face of others when braking. In Italian we say ‘frenare in faccia’, to ‘in it to brake face ‘.
“Zarco was very wide, and he ‘brakes in Franco’s face, maybe not to get Franco back in brakes. But he’s too close, and if you’re 300 km / h, you have a lot of slipstream, and Franco had no chance to brake [and avoid contact].
“In the end, there is a lot of risk. We risk a lot, especially me and Maverick. This was a potential disaster.
“I spoke face-to-face with Zarco. I also said this to him. He told me he did not do it on purpose. Still aggressive is good, but brakes in the face of the other riders, especially at 300 km / h is a potential disaster. “
The 41-year-old added that the design of the track, which will host another round next weekend, was also a factor.
“I think the Red Bull Ring is a bit dangerous in some places, especially if you have hard brakes like this from 300km / h to 50km / h, and in the hairpin you have to turn completely in the opposite direction “Rossi said.
“This is potentially a very dangerous place. But I think it’s more about respecting the riders. This is more dangerous than the track, I think … Everyone should think about this, not just some.”
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