A horrifying high speed crash at the Austrian round of the 2020 MotoGP season prompted a red flag this weekend.
“I will pray tonight,” said MotoGP’s 7-time champion, Valentino Rossi after a horrifying, race-ending 300+ kilometers per hour crash at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The red flag came after the bikes of Ducati’s Johann Zarco and Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli’s collided at turn three of the Red Bull ring. After the collision, their bikes, running at approximately more than 300 kilometers per hour, cartwheeled, nearly taking out the passing Rossi with mere inches to spare. Rossi’s team mate, Maverick Viñales, was also barely missed.
“It was so scary, it was terrifying,” added Rossi. The veteran rider also urged the younger riders fighting for position to exercise caution to avoid the same mishap that happened this weekend.
“I think it is good to be aggressive because everybody tries to do the maximum, but for me we don't have to exaggerate, because we need to remember that this sport is very dangerous.”
“We were lucky”
The crash almost took Viñales out as well
The horrifying accident could’ve been much worse for the two Yamaha riders, as the two bikes involved in the accident almost took them out as well. “But then Franco's bike passed me at an incredible speed and also the bike of Zarco jumped over Maverick. We were very lucky, but we hope this type of incident is a lesson for riders to improve their behavior in the future,” said Rossi.
Still Ducati
Ducati remains unbeaten at the Re Bull Ring since its introduction in the MotoGP racing calendar in 2016. Andrea Dovizioso took the chequered flag after Suzuki’s Alex Rins crashed with 10 laps to go. Suzuki’s Joan Mir took second place, while Ducati’s Jack Miller took the third spot.
