Jakarta –
Last weekend, the Portugal MotoGP took many injuries. Several racers had accidents that forced them to miss the next race. Dorna highlights the condition of the Portimao Circuit.
Quoted by Speedweek, it was revealed that the Portimao circuit operator only made cosmetic repairs to the inappropriate gravel after Fabio Di Giannantonio’s accident. The egg-sized stones were not moved, but simply filled up with several truckloads of gravel. The gravel layer is then only a maximum of 3 cm high.
In fact, according to the regulations, gravel on the circuit requires a layer of gravel as high as 25 centimeters.
The condition of the gravel layer is in the spotlight because many drivers experience crashes. Pol Espargaro, Luca Marini and several other racers were affected.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta talks about the possibility of Portimao being dropped from the MotoGP calendar. Especially if the circuit in Portugal is reluctant to improve.
“Unless things really change, we won’t be having a MotoGP event here next year. That’s pretty clear,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta.
“With the current situation, which has claimed many victims, Portimao 2024 will not have a place on the calendar. We have had enough requests from other countries and circuits. I explained it very clearly to Portugal,” said Ezpeleta.
Dorna even firmly asked the promoter of Portimao GP to improve the gravel conditions before the World Superbike race (September 29 to October 1).
“Without a gravel trap that complies with regulations, Autódromo will not receive Grade A homologation for 2024. So it cannot enter the GP calendar,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta.
Meanwhile, at least four riders were absent at the Argentina MotoGP due to an accident at the Portugal MotoGP. First, racer Tech3 Gas Gas Pol Espargaro who was injured during the Free Practice 2 MotoGP Portugal. Pol suffered a spinal fracture and also a broken jaw. From the results of the initial examination, it is reported that Pol will be absent from racing in the next few months.
Apart from Pol, Ducati Lenovo Team racer Enea Bastianini also had to be willing to lose points at the Argentina MotoGP. Bastianini is currently suffering from a broken collarbone after an incident with Luca Marini at the inaugural Sprint Race. Bastianini himself is predicted to return to racing in the third series at the Circuit of the Americas, Texas.
Following recently, there were Marc Marquez and Miguel Oliveira who announced that they would be absent in Argentina after a collision incident at the Portuguese MotoGP. At that time, Oliveria was suddenly hit by Marc Marquez. The two riders left the track and were dragged into the gravel.
Watch Video “Jack Miller masters the second practice of the Portuguese MotoGP“
(rgr/your)