MotoGP tweaks Red Bull Ring Turn 3 barriers after horror crash
MotoGP has tweaked Turn 3 at Red Bull Ring for the Styrian Grand Prix by extending the air fence following last week's horror smash between Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli
Morbidelli collided with Zarco at almost 200mph during the Austrian Grand Prix as the Avintia Ducati rider moved slightly off-line under braking on the run through the fast left kink at Turn 2.
Both were sent into the gravel at high speed, while Morbidelli's bike slid straight into the path of the bikes ahead - with Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales narrowly avoiding being hit by the errant Petronas SRT Yamaha.
Zarco's bike was launched into the air after it collided with the air fence, with Vinales also lucky to avoid being hit by the airborne Ducati.
In response to this, MotoGP will extend the air fence on the outside of Turn 3 to create a block for the entire corner in a bid to avoid any potential repeat of last Sunday's terrifying accident.
This was an idea put to some of the riders post-race on Sunday by the media, with LCR's Cal Crutchlow highlighting the risks of extending the air fence.
"If you put a catch fence there, if you extend that catch fence, what happens if you run off track? The place is not safe," Crutchlow said last Sunday.
"Unfortunately, there's no way around [the Turn 3 problem] because the riders would say [if] you extend that there and you make a mistake... imagine in the wet?
"Just running off the track there or something like that and you're alone in the practice, you can potentially go across the grass, go straight, whatever.
"But if you put something there you ride straight into it. We're in a no-win situation unfortunately in regards to that.
"I'm shocked at seeing it, I'm shocked at what happened. And I don't know what they can do."
Morbidelli and Zarco will attend a meeting with Race Direction on Thursday at the Red Bull Ring to discuss the accident.
The SRT rider escaped injury from the scary off, but later took to social media to dismiss the notion that the collision was simply a racing incident, saying that "someone needs to pay" for it.
Rossi took to social media on Tuesday to acknowledge that Zarco did not intentionally move under braking - but reiterated the need for riders to be more wary and watch their aggression levels while racing.
Zarco's participation in this weekend's Styrian GP is unknown at present after he underwent surgery on a broken right scaphoid on Wednesday as a result of Sunday's crash.
Previous article
2020 MotoGP Styrian Grand Prix session timings and preview
Next article
Zarco to miss Friday MotoGP Styrian GP practice without medical test
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Teams | AB Motoracing |
| Author | Lewis Duncan |
Where does Honda's new MotoGP signing sit ahead of its king's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Has Yamaha banished its demons with its 2021 MotoGP bike?
Against the expected run of play at Qatar's Losail circuit, both Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo carved through a resolute Ducati defence to secure back-to-back MotoGP wins for the Japanese marque. After a difficult 2020, it appears that Yamaha has swaggered back into championship contention
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
Did the Qatar GP hint at Ducati’s true MotoGP leader?
OPINION: Johann Zarco talked a big game pre-season, and is so far vindicating himself as a factory rider at Pramac after finishing the Qatar GP as top Ducati in second. And contrasting his and Jack Miller's weekends and their approaches, is Zarco emerging as Ducati's true MotoGP leader?
The key changes behind the latest 'return of the Mack'
Maverick Vinales’s authoritative victory at the MotoGP season opener came during a period of personal and professional change for the Yamaha rider. Can it be the springboard for a title challenge?
