**”Stewards’ Controversial Non-Call in Bastianini-Martin Clash: A New Precedent for MotoGP?”**

Uncomfortable inquiries arise from stewards' decision to not act on the Enea Bastianini-Jorge Martin incident.

Does this establish a new standard for how rules are applied?

Intense and competitive racing? Pushing boundaries yet maintaining fairness? Overly aggressive deserving a penalty?

As expected, the decisive last-lap encounter between Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini, which determined the winner of the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, has been the main topic of discussion since the conclusion of MotoGP’s 14th race of the season.

It's even less shocking that there wasn't a consensus on how the situation was managed.

Spotting an opening at Turn 4, Bastianini maneuvered his factory Ducati up the inside. As Martin started to lean into the turn, the Italian rider pulled up beside him, resulting in minor contact. Martin fared worse, getting pushed to the edge of the gravel trap outside the corner. Meanwhile, Bastianini continued on to secure his second victory of the season, finishing just over five seconds ahead.

Martin was livid as he completed the race, directing an obscene gesture towards Bastianini, who was celebrating in front of him. After calming down, though, Martin felt remorse for his actions.

Bastianini's victory has moved him up to third place in the rankings, now trailing Martin by 59 points as they approach this weekend's Indonesian Grand Prix.

Enea Bastianini secured Ducati's milestone 100th victory in the premier class, placing them 4th on the all-time list in MotoGP. 🏆🇮🇹 #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/0TLKz93SnJ— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) September 22, 2024

Pointing Fingers

During their media interviews, Martin and Bastianini expressed opposing opinions about the event.

Martin contended that there was no space for that maneuver. He added that continuing the discussion was pointless since it wouldn't alter the outcome. Nevertheless, he believed he earned the win and emphasized that if a move was made, it should have been done cleanly without any contact.

Bastianini responded, saying, "Indeed, it was a risky move, but ultimately, it was my only option. Without taking that chance, I wouldn't have been able to compete because Martin was performing exceptionally well on the rest of the track, making it my sole opportunity."

In any situation, it’s rare to find two riders who share the same opinion. Since Bastianini wasn’t penalized, he will believe he did nothing wrong. On the other hand, Martin, who was affected by the incident, will naturally have a different perspective.

At last year's event in Qatar, when the roles were reversed, world champion Francesco Bagnaia referenced this perspective when asked for his thoughts. Martin, who executed an assertive maneuver on Bagnaia during the sprint at Turn 6 leading to a collision, believed he was operating within acceptable boundaries.

In an ironic twist, Bagnaia was asked for his opinion on the matter and he responded by saying, "I think it's great that he was the one doing it, as it creates a scenario that I find appealing."

Bagnaia's remark indicated that the guidelines for their competition had changed, allowing for more aggressive and physical racing tactics in their championship contest.

The stewards did not review the incident in Qatar. Likewise, last Sunday's final lap collision involving Bastianini and Martin was also not examined. According to Martin, he now has a better understanding of the race direction's stance moving forward. He expressed, “In the future, if I need to do something similar, there won’t be any repercussions… I hope.”

Did the officials make the correct decision?

This is the major question, and it appears there is no definitive answer.

It can be said that this decision needs to be evaluated based on two criteria: whether it benefited the show and whether it was managed properly.

Let's address the initial section.

It's clear that Bastianini's bold maneuver paid off, allowing him to take the lead. This moment marked the peak of a tense grand prix where Martin struggled to extend his lead over Bastianini beyond 0.8 seconds for the majority of the race.

Bastianini observed Martin's strengths while trailing him and concluded that his best opportunity was at Turn 4. Martin's dominance in the latter part of the lap meant Bastianini had no chance to overtake in the heavy braking areas of Turn 14 and Turn 16.

He noticed an opportunity and seized it, executing the maneuver successfully. It was a bold move that caused Martin to veer off the track. In MotoGP, the regulations are often more lenient during the final lap confrontations, similar to how the rules are somewhat more flexible at the beginning of the race.

Bastianini keeping his victory was beneficial for the entertainment value, pleasing both the Italian spectators at Misano and the viewers at home, who continued watching without later learning that the outcome had been nullified.

There is a case to be argued that a factory Ducati team rider outperforming Martin after Bagnaia's crash significantly impacts the championship standings, reducing the point difference between Martin and Bagnaia from 29 to 24. This is a situation the stewards panel prefers to avoid getting involved in.

This method isn't entirely uncommon. In the North American National Hockey League, referees tend to be more lenient with penalty calls, particularly during sudden-death overtime in the playoffs, to avoid significantly impacting the outcome. This is especially true for calls that aren't clearly definitive.

However, this frequently results in overlooking incidents that should be penalized, ultimately leading to a decline in confidence in leadership.

In the case of the Martin/Bastianini incident, the situation is ambiguous. Bastianini saw an opportunity to make a move, even though it was a risky decision, and contact was made. Both Martin and Bastianini went off the track, although Martin's off-track excursion was more severe. The complexity in judging this incident arises from the fact that Bastianini veered onto the blue paint beyond the curb as he glanced left towards Martin.

Therefore, it is quite challenging to determine with certainty if Bastianini would have successfully navigated the turn or if he was going to miss it anyway.

According to Article 1.21.2 of the FIM's regulations, riders are required to operate their vehicles responsibly to avoid posing risks to other racers or participants and to prevent gaining any unfair benefits, whether on the track or in the pitlane. Violations of this rule can result in penalties imposed by the FIM MotoGP Stewards.

The language used in this rule is too vague to clearly define the rules of engagement in MotoGP. Regarding “gain an unfair advantage,” Bastianini’s overtaking maneuver was facilitated by the fact that contact caused Martin to go off the track. However, couldn't any riding that involves contact be deemed as "causing danger"? Or is it considered dangerous only if it leads to a crash?

Matters like this are addressed during safety commission meetings with the riders, yet there is generally a lack of public transparency regarding how the stewards make their decisions.

Following the grand prix at Misano on Sunday, the stewards released their routine end-of-day report detailing all the incidents they reviewed. Notably absent from this report was any mention of the Martin/Bastianini overtake. The stewards missed an ideal chance to explain why they chose not to investigate this particular event, especially since their own rules suggest that an investigation was warranted.

This isn't a novel issue, but given how publicly this incident unfolded and the subsequent buzz it created in the paddock, it's perplexing that the stewards didn't feel the need to offer clarity and justify their decision. This situation once more calls into question the efficiency of the current stewarding system in MotoGP.

Did MotoGP create this problem for themselves?

Opinions among the riders were divided. Aleix Espargaro, Luca Marini, and Marc Marquez believed that the maneuver went too far and disagreed with the decision not to impose a penalty. Marquez argued that since Bastianini also went off the track, the action was excessive, and Bastianini should have been relegated a position.

Espargaro criticized the stewarding at the French Grand Prix, pointing out that he was subjected to two aggressive overtakes, one of which involved Bastianini. These maneuvers pushed him off the track, but neither incident was reviewed by officials.

Conversely, Jack Miller sided with those supporting Bastianini. Known for his aggressive racing style and his dedication to MotoGP's entertainment value, Miller believed that anything goes on the final lap. During the last lap of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Johann Zarco nudged him off course, causing Miller to lose his place in the standings.

That event also went unexamined, despite the fact that it likely warranted an investigation.

The incident involving Bastianini and Martin is not an isolated case this season. A similar situation occurred during the French Grand Prix, where Espargaro was involved in a collision on the final lap, causing him to lose positions after being pushed off the track. Following this event, the Aprilia rider suggested that race officials would only intervene if a maneuver leads to a crash.

Despite the steward panel's decision to ask Johann Zarco to yield a position to Acosta for pushing him wide during an overtake at Turn 5 on the first lap of the Spanish GP, no penalty was ultimately given. Zarco corrected the situation on his own, so no further action was taken. It's important to point out that Acosta remained on track. However, the stewards have not clarified why this incident was deemed a violation of the rules, while a similar situation at Misano was not.

The current stewards panel, led by two-time 500cc world champion Freddie Spencer, has been a source of ongoing frustration due to its inconsistency. This issue came to a head when Zarco lost his temper in the stewards' room after a crash with Aleix Espargaro at Jerez, which the panel ruled as a racing incident.

In recent times, there have been other strange incidents, such as Takaaki Nakagami avoiding penalties after causing multiple riders to crash at Turn 1 of the 2022 Catalan Grand Prix, or Bagnaia being required to give up a position to Miller at Jerez last year for a challenging yet fair overtake that involved no contact and did not disadvantage the Australian.

It seems necessary to ask (returning to my previous mention of the NHL): are those in charge intentionally becoming more lenient due to concerns about negative reactions?

A key aspect of the Bastianini/Martin incident needs to be taken into account, and it's something that multiple riders have pointed out.

Competing in MotoGP has become significantly more challenging due to the modern front tyre, extensive aerodynamic load, and ride height device. At the San Marino Grand Prix, Bagnaia observed that the turbulent air and heat from Martin's bike made it impossible for him to overtake during the sprint. Similarly, during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend, overtaking opportunities were scarce.

The increase in aggressive overtaking maneuvers is because riders now have fewer chances to execute a pass.

In my opinion, the overtake was justified,” Marc Marquez commented on Bastianini’s maneuver. “Given the nature of these bikes, it’s the only feasible way to execute an overtake.”

The situation involving Bastianini and Martin exemplifies a scenario where people need to adapt. However, this arguably suggests that there should be stricter oversight from the stewards.

Has the decision at Misano established a new standard?

Martin is convinced that the officials have now clarified what is permissible regarding the conduct guidelines. However, the actual standard was established several years back.

Historically, MotoGP hasn't typically been chaotic like a demolition derby. However, if you look back through its past, you'll find numerous instances of aggressive, last-minute overtakes that pushed the boundaries. These moves were often not penalized and are actually lauded.

At Misano last Sunday, Pedro Acosta mentioned to the press that "every top racer has executed passes like this," referring to Bastianini's move that secured him the victory.

One of the most well-known instances of this is the showdown between Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau for the win at the final corner of the 2005 Spanish Grand Prix. It’s clear that the maneuver should have been penalized. However, it wasn’t, and it remains one of the most iconic moments in MotoGP history (deservedly so).

A few years back, Gibernau mentioned to TNT Sport that it established the standard for modern racing.

"Honestly, no, I don't believe they would," he responded when questioned whether today's stewards would have investigated the 2005 incident at Jerez. He added, "I've lost count of how often we've discussed that turn, but as time passes, I realize that things evolve."

"Numerous spectators witnessed that action, and it subsequently paved the way for similar occurrences in the future. At the conclusion of the race, we both acted in what we believed was in the best interest of the championship, and my perspective on the matter may differ. However, since that event, there have been changes in MotoGP and the perception of racing, with which I disagree."

Gibernau, similar to Martin at Misano the previous weekend, found himself on the losing side. Consequently, his perspective, much like Martin's, is influenced by this experience. This is typical of racers: everything seems acceptable until they are personally affected.

However, the overall reaction to Bastianini's maneuver indicates that the acceptance of it as the acceptable boundary has become ingrained in our perception of what racing ought to be.

The decision of the stewards not to investigate Bastianini is ultimately irrelevant, particularly since they have refused to explain their reasoning. This creates a concerning scenario where they might have to uphold this precedent in future similar situations, no matter the outcomes…

Learn More

Sign Up for Our MotoGP Newsletter

Receive the newest updates, exclusive content, interviews, and special offers from the MotoGP paddock straight to your email.

For further details, please review our Privacy Policy.

Breaking News

Additional Updates

Site Index

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to copy or reproduce any text, photographs, or illustrations, whether in full or in part, in any manner.