What we learned from MotoGP's wretched Catalan GP

There were plenty of talking points from MotoGP’s Catalan Grand Prix, which unfortunately ended with both Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco suffering fractures in separate accidents. 

Marquez was unlucky to hit Pedro Acosta’s hobbled KTM exiting Turn 9, while Zarco got caught up in Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati at the first restart.

There were visible changes to the competitive order as well, with Aprilia’s self-destruction allowing Ducati and KTM to fight for the top honours.

Here are five things we learned from the Catalan GP.

MotoGP has a perception problem around safety

Marquez was injured in a nasty looking crash after he ran into Acosta's hobbled KTM

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

On one hand, MotoGP has come a long way in terms of how it handles major accidents. Apart from the actual response at the track from the medical crew, the broadcast team has also become more mindful of riders and their families, with days of the TV cameras cutting to injured riders long gone.

However, the race being restarted twice did not sit well with some quarters, with even some riders admitting to the mental toll they took from watching their colleagues being taken to hospital. The likes of Pedro Acosta, Fabio di Giannantonio and Johann Zarco had to take part in the first restart despite being hit by debris from Alex Marquez’s Gresini Ducati on the run down to Turn 10. Likewise, Luca Marini and Francesco Bagnaia had little option but to get going again after watching Johann Zarco on the ground with his leg stuck in Bagnaia’s Ducati.

While it’s hard to fault either MotoGP or the circuit promoters for what was a freak crash between Acosta and Marquez, the second accident could have been avoided as the risks associated with a pack of bikes launching into Turn 1 at the start were already well known. It’s perhaps understandable why some riders weren’t too pleased to be told they will have to go through the start sequence again for a third time.

Ultimately, the safety of riders is of paramount importance. While the bikes and tracks are becoming safer and safer, how MotoGP handles such situations will ultimately decide how the championship is perceived by its most loyal fans.

MotoGP’s Safety Commission is in need of an overhaul

MotoGP riders stand for the playing of the National Anthems

Photo by: Eric Alonso / Getty Images

Even if the events on Sunday had unfolded differently, it was already clear in the build-up to the race that MotoGP needed to revamp its Safety Commission. The whole purpose of the Safety Commission is defeated if it’s not able to bring about any meaningful changes. And the fact that 19 of the 22 riders feel that it’s not even worth showing up to weekly meetings is proof that the forum should not exist in its current guise.

While a larger percentage of the field is expected next time in Mugello for obvious reasons, a more permanent solution is needed to ensure participation remains high in the future. It would be easy for one party to blame the other for inaction, but riders, teams, FIM and MotoGP all need to work together to avoid a repeat of Sunday’s race.

Riders should not expect MotoGP and FIM to act in their interests if they simply stop voicing their complaints through the right channel. Equally, it’s MotoGP and FIM’s responsibility to ensure that riders are given appropriate opportunities to be heard. Figures like Dani Pedrosa or recently-retired riders such as Aleix Espargaro could also act as a bridge between the two sides.

Fabio di Giannantonio can lead Ducati’s title charge

Di Giannantonio laid his claim to lead Ducati's title hunt

Photo by: Jose Jordan / AFP via Getty Images

If there were any doubts about Fabio di Giannantonio’s title credentials, those were allayed on Sunday as he came through from sixth on the grid to claim his second MotoGP win. Di Giannantonio had already been Ducati’s most consistent rider and top scorer in the first five races. But podiums only go so far, especially when your rival has a bike capable of dominating the championship. Ducati needed another proven race winner to take the fight to Aprilia, and it may finally have one in ‘Diggia’.

With Marc Marquez struggling at the start of the season due to injury and Alex Marquez also picking up a fracture in unfortunate circumstances, the VR46 racer could be Ducati’s best bet in the European leg of the campaign. 

Ironically, di Giannantonio’s win came on a weekend when he wasn’t able to replicate his usual qualifying heroics. And it’s important to remember that he lacked the pace (and track position) to take the fight to Alex Marquez and Pedro Acosta in Saturday’s sprint, so there is still some room for improvement. But after six rounds, he is up to third in the championship, and only 11 points behind Jorge Martin’s factory Aprilia.

Marco Bezzecchi is no longer the Sunday specialist

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Marco Bezzecchi was already showing minor cracks at Le Mans, but it was in Barcelona where his title challenge looked the most vulnerable. When you have the fastest bike on the grid, the automatic assumption is that a multiple race winner like Marco Bezzecchi would be fighting at the front every single weekend. Some fluctuation in result is always expected, but ironically, the previous weekend’s French GP showed that he could still finish second while not feeling comfortable on the bike.

So a wretched weekend in Barcelona came as rather a shock, especially as the other three Aprilia riders showed that the RS-GP appeared quick enough for a podium finish in the Catalan GP. A poor qualifying did make his life tough, but he simply lacked the speed to charge through the field in either race. A mistake at Turn 10 on Sunday further dented his prospects. 

The only explanation Bezzecchi offered was that his rivals made steady improvements over the weekend, while he was stuck at the same level he showed on Friday. 

Bezzecchi gave away several big points-scoring opportunities early in the season due to unforced errors, but speed was never the problem. He’d be hoping that Barcelona was an outlier in what has otherwise been an impressive season so far.

Aprilia needs to stabilise the ship

Martin and Fernandez blamed each other for their crash

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Aprilia’s problems in the Catalan GP extended far beyond Bezzecchi. It was bad enough that the championship leader and the team’s long-term bet was struggling to break inside the top five. But Jorge Martin’s constant crashes over the weekend further wrecked the team’s chances, especially as he clearly had the speed to finish on the podium. 

But perhaps the moment with the single-biggest consequences was the crash between Martin and Raul Fernandez at the first restart that took both riders out of contention. It was a massive own goal for Aprilia, but what happened afterwards made matters worse. Both parties apportioned the blame for the incident, and there were visible tensions within the camp as Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola went to meet Trackhouse team principal Davide Brivio. A furious Jorge Martin also shoved team manager Paolo Bonoro as he returned to the garage after the race.

Ai Ogura could have been Aprilia’s saving grace, despite another woeful qualifying performance that left him 18th on the grid. But while he performed admirably in the sprint, he threw away a big result by punting Acosta off the track and earning a penalty for causing the collision.

Infighting and a drop in performance left Aprilia in a hole in Barcelona

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images