Track Limits Controversy at Austrian MotoGP: Riders Confounded by Penalties

"I was aware a lengthy penalty lap was imminent,"

Joan Mir perplexed by track boundary breaches in Austria: "This is a topic we need to discuss as it's challenging for us to grasp."

In the latest Austrian MotoGP Sprint event, an unprecedented 17 competitors were cautioned for exceeding track boundaries. Following additional violations, Joan Mir and Augusto Fernandez were subjected to a long lap penalty.

The implementation of an automated sensor-based system for monitoring track boundaries has significantly reduced the prior disputes regarding whether a rider had indeed crossed into the forbidden green zones just past the kerbs.

Mir points out that during the intensity of a race, it can be challenging for a rider to precisely identify when they've unintentionally veered onto the green area, increasing the chances of them committing the same infraction again.

The Spanish participant mentioned that there's an ambiguous situation when a rider either fails to hit a braking point or is pushed off course by the maneuvers of another contestant.

Participants are allowed to make contact with the green zone up to three times without deceleration before they are given a formal caution. Any additional two violations lead to either a longer lap penalty, or if it occurs on the last lap, a penalty after the race is concluded.

"Mir commented after the Sprint, expressing a common sentiment, "I believe the majority of us are in a similar situation, not knowing where [we crossed the track boundaries today]."

Upon noticing the second boundary restrictions, my initial thought was, "I'm unsure why I possess this."

"I was aware that the extended lap was inevitable since I wasn't sure [where my path was veering off]… It's not just me experiencing this."

There was a moment when the 2020 world champion was certain he had made contact with the green, as a result of a collision with Raul Fernandez.

"The Repsol Honda competitor mentioned, “I believe we need to distinguish between the different causes [for running wide].”

"For instance, navigating Turn 8, our motorcycle effortlessly climbs over the curb and hits the green area, and I'm in favor of sanctions for such actions. Similarly, if someone exits at Turn 1 and shaves off a few tenths of a second, I also support penalizing that."

"However, if an individual surpasses you, forces you off the course, you end up on the grass, drop behind, and then you're the one who receives a caution! It's illogical!"

Should we find it challenging to halt the bicycle, end up going off track, waste time, and additionally receive this caution!

"We need to discuss this matter, as it poses a challenge for our comprehension."

During the entire Sunday race, there were merely six warnings for exceeding track boundaries and a single long-lap penalty, which was given to Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo.

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