Today’s race on the ultra-fast Red Bull Ring turned out to be an absolute no-go for Aprilia. While Lorenzo Savadori was forced to take him in after a fireball crash with Dani Pedrosa’s KTM, Aleix Espargarò took an early shower because of a mechanical problem. the second of the season after the one at Le Mans. Despite starting in seventh place, the Spaniard was just outside the points zone when he was eliminated. The reason was a contact (at both starts) with Marc Marquez in Turn 1.
“I don’t want to blame Marc, after all, that’s his style, We got to know him over the past ten years. He made a pass at the limit, but that’s how it is. At the same time, I am disappointed with the behavior of the race stewards, I expect them to do their job and apply the rules – he said – maybe they were watching the Olympics closing ceremony, Marquez was very aggressive on both the first and second starts. If fines are only imposed in the event of an accident, what is the stewards’ panel for? I don’t understand how they work, there is no communication and no one understands the sanctions. I think it’s a lost battle ”.
In the last three races, which were held in chronological order on the Austrian track, the red flags have determined the race of the drivers: first the contact between Zarco and Morbidelli, then Vinales, which ended without brakes and today the brutal accident in which his team mate was hit. Pedrosa’s motorcycle, which was on the ideal line, was hit. Is it right to continue on the former A1 ring?
“We have said several times that it is dangerous, but I don’t want to waste any more time because you basically do what you want – he emphasized – This circuit is unsuitable for motorbikes, given the situation in which we could organize the Grands Prix in cities, nothing would change. I’m sorry for Lorenzo because he’s a good guy and he doesn’t deserve it, if he met Dani instead of the motorcycle we’d be talking about a tragedy.
As already mentioned, an engine problem in the RS-GP prevented the 32-year-old from completing the planned 27 laps. Andrea Dovizioso’s name is already mentioned as a possible replacement for Savadori, who broke a bone in his right ankle.
“I have little to add to the race; an engine problem prevented us from scoring good points for the overall standings. I’m sad, We had the potential to bring home a great result, I would also have liked to have been in the top five of the championship, but today’s zero complicates our plans even further. Now we look confidently to the next weekend where, given Savadori’s injury, I would be excited to see Dovizioso at work.