Controversy Unleashed: MotoGP Stewards’ Decision Sparks Debate Over Bastianini-Martin Clash

Were MotoGP Stewards 'incorrect' in not probing the Bastianini-Martin incident?

The latest episode of the Crash.net MotoGP podcast delves into the consequences of the clash between Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin.

The main topic of conversation following Sunday’s Emilia Romagna race now leads this week's discussion on the Crash.net MotoGP podcast.

A heated collision on the final lap saw Enea Bastianini overtaking Jorge Martin to secure victory. Consequently, Martin's championship advantage over Francesco Bagnaia increased by 20 points rather than the expected 25.

However, since the FIM Stewards did not look into the event, there was no formal decision regarding the appropriateness of the action, which might lead to complications down the line.

Martin has expressed his readiness to replicate Bastianini's maneuver, whereas Aleix Espargaro was shocked that the Stewards deemed the incident unworthy of further examination.

“I’m confused by the actions of the Steward panel,” Espargaro stated. “One rider made contact with another, causing both to go off the track, yet they didn’t even investigate the incident.”

"I'm somewhat concerned, as the signal being given to all riders is that they can act without any restrictions… This is a highly risky statement."

Jordan Moreland, the host of the podcast, started by saying, "The last-lap incident involving Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin has definitely divided people's opinions. Personally, I believe that issuing no penalty was the correct decision. However, I want to talk about the Stewards' perspective, which appeared to be missing in this situation. There was no clear explanation provided as to why the incident wasn't investigated."

"That was the key piece of information we were all anticipating – an explanation for why they announced the result," responded Lewis Duncan, a journalist for Crash.net covering MotoGP. "It was the final lap, but the incident was not minor. Martin was forced significantly off the track, and we also saw Bastianini go off track. Therefore, it's understandable why Martin is frustrated that there wasn't at least an investigation."

"Regarding a precedent, yes, but with these Stewards, we know there's a complete lack of consistency. There's a notion – although the Stewards have never officially confirmed it – that in the final lap, the usual rules don't apply. You can push the boundaries more than you could during the rest of the race."

“This year has provided notable instances. For example, during the Le Mans race, Franco Morbidelli collided with Aleix Espargaro at the final turn, causing Aleix to drop several places. Unsurprisingly, Aleix was quite displeased that no inquiry followed the incident.”

At the Spanish Grand Prix, during the initial lap at Turn 5, Johann Zarco pushed Pedro Acosta off his line. Despite this, Acosta merely dropped a single spot and stayed on the track, making it less severe than the incident in Misano. The Stewards later stated that if Zarco hadn't voluntarily relinquished the position, he would have faced a penalty.

"What's the limit here? I believe that's the question on everyone's mind. The lack of clarity – how can we and the riders be aware of the engagement rules? This seems to be the main concern, rather than whether Bastianini deserved a penalty."

Moreland commented, "That's exactly the point, Pete. The Stewards should have explained, 'This is the reason he wasn't penalized'."

Crash.net MotoGP editor Pete McLaren commented, "These significant actions are the ones that stick with us, right? Moreover, the racers rely on these choices as a reference for what's to come."

"Keep in mind, this issue concerns not only MotoGP racers but also those in Moto2, Moto3, and the Red Bull Rookies. They all observe such incidents and wonder, 'Where do we draw the line?'"

"In the final lap, there’s more leeway in what you can do, which is acceptable. However, there must still be clear boundaries. For many, including Marc Marquez, that boundary is the actual edge of the race track: you must remain on the track."

"We've witnessed penalties before for maneuvers where competitors didn't even leave the track. Track limits are often enforced down to the millimeter, and riders are sometimes instructed to give up a position. Although this incident didn't involve track limits, you get the idea. We simply wanted some clarification."

When considering the actual maneuver, opinions can vary. The general consensus seems to be that the contact was acceptable for a final lap scenario. Personally, I didn't find it hazardous. However, it's worth noting that both Martin and Bastianini failed to make the turn.

"What if they had been on a quicker section of the track and both cars went off? In that case, I believe the Stewards would have issued a penalty. That's the kind of clarification we were looking for from them."

"Perhaps something along the lines of: ‘It was a low-speed turn, it happened during the final lap, and Bastianini veered off the track to prevent further collisions,’ or any other valid explanations. However, clarify why it was acceptable for him to leave the track."

Each event falls under the regulation requiring riders to act responsibly, avoid creating hazards, and not seek an unfair benefit. Because interpreting this rule involves a lot of subjective judgment, we have a Stewards panel in place.

Remaining on the track is crucial because it provides a clear and straightforward gauge of whether the principle of being responsible and fair has been upheld. This clarity is the reason riders frequently claim "I made the corner" to justify their behavior.

Typically, the rider attempting to pass will nudge the rider in front, causing them to move aside, but both riders generally remain on the track. Despite this, they frequently have to explain their actions to the Stewards, and we've observed penalties being issued for interfering with other riders or for making overly aggressive moves.

"It’s surprising that the rider attempting to overtake not only made contact but also failed to make the turn, and yet no investigation was initiated."

The Stewards should have handled the situation similarly to how they dealt with the incident between Alex Marquez and Bagnaia at Aragon. They should have investigated it and provided an explanation for not taking any action. Following the Aragon incident, most people accepted the decision.

"However, many riders are now asking, 'Does this mean we can do this in the future?'"

Moreland responded by saying, "That's a valid observation, as they provided extensive details regarding the Alex Marquez-Bagnaia event, which was quite nice to see. It seemed like they even analyzed data. They walked us through their process, but in this case, there's just complete silence."

"What did you think about what Marc Marquez said, Lewis? He essentially mentioned that the maneuver would have been acceptable if Bastianini hadn't gone off the track."

Duncan responded by saying, "We have shifted from having green paint on all run-off areas to not monitoring the ones without green paint, which is somewhat foolish when it comes to maintaining consistency."

This situation brings up an important question: what if that area had been marked with green paint? We understand that in the final lap, any contact with a green-marked zone requires a driver to give up a position. Would Bastianini have faced this consequence? This is yet another reason the Stewards needed to clarify their decision.

In my view, Marquez provided valuable insight, especially since he has frequently faced criticism for his aggressive riding style. He made a valid point: executing an aggressive overtake is acceptable, but it's crucial to remain on the track while doing so.

"The issue at hand is whether Bastianini veered off course simply because he glanced back, among other speculations. Nonetheless, he did leave the track. This is precisely why an investigation was necessary."

Moreland commented: "It's sparked conversations about MotoGP, and it's positive that we witnessed a last-lap attempt to overtake. It was quite thrilling! I must admit, Jorge Martin managed it well in the end. However, he also mentioned that if he finds himself in a similar scenario again, we might see him make a similar move."

McLaren stated, "We require an official clarification to understand the boundaries in these scenarios. It appears that many riders believe the limit is much further than we had anticipated."

"Passes are something everyone looks forward to. A bit of contact is generally acceptable. The key point is that no one was unseated. However, this maneuver has sparked numerous debates. Historically, the legendary passes at Laguna Seca, where riders would go off track but still retain their position, were permitted. In today's context, such moves might not be allowed, or perhaps they would, given what unfolded on Sunday."

Many individuals, including some racers, believe everything was fine and it was just intense competition. Bagnaia mentioned that Martin did something comparable to him in Qatar last year. However, although the nature of the contact was alike, neither Martin nor Bagnaia were close to leaving the track in Qatar.

The discussion circles back to Marc's point about maintaining one's position on the track. This is crucial for ensuring that riders adhere to certain safety boundaries. The question arises whether it makes a difference if a rider, like Bastianini, veers off the track by a meter or if someone veers off in fifth gear, potentially endangering others by forcing them off the track as well.

"Many riders are of the opinion that any maneuver causing another rider to crash will prompt an inquiry. Similarly, if a rider gains a position by veering off the track, it is expected that this would also be investigated. This leads to a lot of unresolved issues."

Duncan mentioned that the situation should be divided into two aspects: whether it benefited the show and whether it was the right choice. He noted that it was certainly beneficial for the show. However, he pointed out that the Stewards faced a challenging situation because they had to determine the race winner, which also had implications for the championship standings.

"I am a major fan of the National Hockey League, and during the playoffs, referees often become more lenient with penalty calls. They prefer not to be perceived as influencing the outcome of important games. However, this approach results in many infractions being overlooked, which undermines trust."

"The Stewards find themselves in a difficult position with no clear solution, but it's their responsibility to enforce and, when needed, adjust the rules. In this case, it's important to do so, as the regulations are quite vague."

"Will this establish a new standard? Sete Gibernau mentioned a few years ago that he believes the standard was established at the 2005 Jerez event. Nowadays, we tend to accept these situations."

"However, we want to avoid situations where players are aggressively colliding and potentially getting hurt, as this could influence the outcome of the championship."

"I believe there's no definitive answer to whether the Stewards were right or wrong in issuing a penalty. However, they were absolutely mistaken in not examining the incident."

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