Slipstream Chaos: Bezzecchi and Vinales Clash at Australian MotoGP Leaves Questions Over Racing Etiquette

Marco Bezzecchi described being caught in the slipstream and expressed his displeasure with Maverick's actions. He stated, "If the roles were reversed, I would make sure to check on the other rider's condition."

After traveling to Melbourne for additional medical examinations following a significant collision with Maverick Vinales during the second-to-last lap of the Australian MotoGP Sprint, Marco Bezzecchi met with the FIM Stewards when he returned to Phillip Island on Sunday.

The VR46 rider received a long lap penalty after losing control in the braking area for Turn 1. This incident occurred shortly after the Aprilia rider had overtaken him.

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The situation was described by the FIM Stewards in the following manner:

As Lap 11 began, positioned between the finish line and the first turn, #12 Vinales overtook #72 Bezzecchi cleanly, without making any contact.

Car #12 maintained a regular and consistent braking pattern, matching its braking position from the last three laps.

Upon examining the video footage, it is noted that player #72 begins to change direction. This, combined with delaying braking and moving at a higher speed, made a collision unavoidable.

After reviewing the facts mentioned, the Stewards conclude that the primary responsibility for the collision and subsequent crash lies with #72.

The Stewards acknowledged that in this case, "the turbulent air generated by the passing of car #12… could potentially serve as a mitigating factor."

In light of the situation, "even though this event might warrant a penalty of two long laps, the presence of mitigating factors means that only one long lap penalty will be enforced."

Marco Bezzecchi, who started the race from fourth position, initially moved up to second place behind Jorge Martin. However, after completing a long lap penalty, he fell back to seventh place during the race on Sunday.

The situation deteriorated significantly when Bezzecchi took a fall on the fifth lap, relegating him to the last place for the remainder of the grand prix.

Reflecting on the happenings of Saturday, the young Italian, set to replace Vinales in the RS-GP factory seat in 2025, remarked:

While heading down the straight, Maverick overtook me using the slipstream, causing turbulence that pushed my bike to the left. To counter this and avoid the outer curb, I had to adjust by steering the bike straight, as the wind was also pushing us outward.

"The issue arose when I made my move, and he positioned himself directly in front of me, applying the brakes sooner than expected."

"From the video footage, it's evident that he applied the brakes, then let go, and applied them once more. Typically, when you brake at the correct moment, you don't release the brake."

"I attempted to keep moving to the right, but the slipstream pulled me in, leaving me unable to prevent the collision."

While he would "rather not receive the penalty, I get why it was made," because "typically, the person trailing is the one at fault."

However, he believed that there had been several other close calls where riders were drawn into the slipstream while braking.

"Take, for instance, the incidents last year in Qatar involving Pecco and Diggia, and in Valencia with Martin and Pecco," he remarked. "The scenarios were identical, only the corner was different. It was slightly slower, with less wind, and not quite like the style of Phillip Island, so to speak."

"This scenario could occur frequently, but luckily for everyone else, they always managed to steer clear of catastrophe."

"Honestly, I'm at a loss for words. Personally, I wasn't a fan of Maverick's actions, but as for the penalty, I'm not upset about it—I completed my long lap."

On Saturday, Vinales believed that Bezzecchi attempted to overtake him again, which led to the incident.

"I believe he intended to pass me once more," Vinales remarked. "That's my impression. Di Giannantonio was trailing him, and he applied the brakes at a usual spot. It's up to the Stewards to make a judgment."

When asked about the Stewards' comments regarding Bezzecchi's actions of "reducing throttle, then accelerating again, and braking later" due to the turbulence, the rider with the number 72 responded:

"I eased off because he passed me so closely that it shifted my bike, though it was still 120 meters away according to the data before the usual braking point. Therefore, I had to accelerate slightly again. After that, I applied the brakes just as I normally would."

"Perhaps Vinales typically applies the brakes sooner than I do, I'm not sure. However, from what I've observed, he engaged the brakes, let go, and then applied them again. Since he was leading, I can't really comment further."

Vinales had every right to be upset after being taken out of the race at such a high velocity, but Bezzecchi believed it was not suitable to make an obscene gesture while he was down in the gravel.

"We had a conversation at the medical center where he assured me that everything was alright and that the most important thing was our well-being. However, during the interviews, he expressed a lot of anger towards me!"

"I was not impressed with how he acted right after the accident. If the roles were switched, I would have checked on the other rider's condition rather than flipping the middle finger and repeatedly cursing at me following our 300 km/h collision."

"Regardless, the key point is that we are okay."

"I traveled to Melbourne using a helicopter and underwent a scan focusing on the upper body, specifically the neck and head. The doctor considered this procedure crucial. Afterward, I returned and had a follow-up appointment with the MotoGP doctor this morning."

Despite experiencing discomfort in his arm and back, Vinales managed to secure an eighth-place finish in the grand prix held on Sunday.

He expressed satisfaction, noting it was great not to sustain any injuries, which means he can compete in Thailand next weekend. This is wonderful news as he continues to contend for fifth place in the championship standings.

"I have no comments regarding the long lap penalty for Bezzecchi, as ultimately it's the Stewards' responsibility to determine whether a penalty is warranted."

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