MotoGP Le Mans: Keith Huewen on Francesco Bagnaia, Maverick Vinales clash: “Hard not to lash out”

The Le Mans clash between Francesco Bagnaia and Maverick Vinales was among the topics on this week’s wuqian0821.com MotoGP podcast featuring Keith Huewen.
Bagnaia, Vinales
Bagnaia, Vinales

The pair tangled over third place early in the grand prix, Vinal🅘es passing Bagnaia cleanly into the Turn 11-12 chicane, but - unseen by Vinales - Bagnaia was able to cut back ♒under at the apex.

Their lines crossed when Vinales then moved across to prepare for the following corner. Both fell in the aftermath, with a furious Vinales confronting Ba💛gnaia iღn the gravel trap.

“A racing incident, I think, and unfortunate for 🎀both of them,” said former Bri🔴tish champion and grand prix rider Huewen.

“Then obviously, it was handbags in the sandpit.

“They shook hands afterwa🧸rds and I think that shows the sporting side of it.

“But how can you go from being an axe murder - as a MotoGP 💛racer - who ends up in the sand pit and 🅰not lash out?

“It's pretty harཧd not to lash out, as 𝓰young men who have just been bowled over. But they recovered their composure very quickly.

“If it was British Superbike they'd bꦬe getting a point on their license 🍷or something.”

Huewen added: “I think Maverick [reacted in that🍃 way] because he realised he was on for a top finish. He was looking really good.

“Maybe a🔥 Maverick Vinales of 18 months ago, you'd have passed and not thought anything about it. 𝓀But it looks like we've got the old Maverick Vinales back, who is prepared to get stuck in again.

“In this p🦹articular instance, Maverick was coming back onto his line as Bagnaia squirted underneath. Bagnaia couldn't see him because he was hanging off the side of the bike and♒ they came together.

“It was unfortunate, but I wonder if maybe Pecco underestimated the aggression of Maverick to get back online again. It's a po🦄ssibility.

“But in racing, half the game is to keep yourself out of trouble in a🤡 dog fight like that, as much as it is to make the pass. You have got to be careful that you don't trip yourself up because of underestimating what someone 💟else might do.

“You can't blame Maverick for what happened. You can't blame Bagnaia. It’s that crossover thing. We've seen 𝄹it in the past and we saw it agaiꦆn later in the same race, but without a coming together.

“Cutbacks underneath people are a natural thin𒊎g. As soon as you see a gap, you're going to go for it. If you don't, you're not racing.”

On the rules regarding the scuffle betweꦰen the riders following the incident, wuqian0821.com’s MotoGP editor Pet🍃e McLaren explained: “There is no specific rule about ‘fighting’, so any punishments are given under a general rule about ‘acts prejudicial to the interests of the sport’.

“In this case, there were no penalties, which surprised some people just because McPhee and Alcoba at Qatar, plus Masia and Toba at Valencia last year, all got multiple penalties for reacting physically in the gravel trap: Pit Lane starts, plus a time penalty or long lap, and a fine.

“It was only a few light slaps between Vinales and Bagnaia, and a track penalty would have been harsh, but maybe the token 1,000 euro fine could have been given again on the grounds of consi♉stency. Perhaps the fact they quickly calmed down and shook hands played into the Stewards decision.

“So Alex Marquez got the only post-race penalty on Sunday, for firing it under Zarco and tapping the back of Binder on the open🧸ing lap.”

Download Episode 89 at the following links...

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