Rossi was extremely lucky that he was not picked up by Franco Morbidelli’s flying Petronas Yamaha on shot nine of the Red Bull Ring race, after contact with Johann Zarco at Turn 2 sent both down in a terrible accident.
Zarco’s Avintia Ducati was run over on the track at Turn 3 when it hit the air barrier, while Morbidelli’s bike swung right between Rossi and Maverick Vinales’ machines.
Both riders took the restart, with Rossi putting the incident behind him and finishing fifth.
When asked about the incident, Rossi said: ‘It was so scary, horrible.
“For me now everyone is very aggressive, but also from the small classes. I can understand it because you play a lot. But for me it is important that we do not exaggerate [the aggression].
“You have to respect the other riders who are on course with you, because we can not forget this sport is very dangerous – especially in a track where you have long rights and you always go 300 km / h.
“What I have already said is that you also have a lot of riders from the small classes who close the door when braking.
‘Zarco is very wide and breaks in Franco’s face, perhaps to prevent Franco from taking over in brakes.
“But it was too close, and when we are 300 km / h, we have a lot of slipstream and Franco did not have a chance to brake.
“We risk a lot, especially me and Maverick. This could have been a potential disaster.
‘I talked to Zarco, I said this to him, and he said he did not do it on purpose.
“But anyway, aggressive is good, but braking in the face of other riders, especially at 300 km / h is a potential disaster.”
Morbidelli was taken to the medical center for checks, but initial scans revealed no serious injuries.
The safety of the Red Bull Ring circuit has come to light in the light of the incident, and although Rossi finds the track dangerous, he believes a lack of respect between riders is more dangerous.
“I think the Red Bull Ring is a bit dangerous in some places, especially if you have hard brakes from 300 km / h to 50 km / h, and in the hairline [at Turn3] you have to go in the opposite direction, ‘he added. “This is a potentially dangerous place.
‘But I think it’s more [lack of] respect between the riders. This is more dangerous than I think. “
Johann Zarco, Avintia Racing crash
Photo by: Gold and goose / Motorsport images
