Marco Bezzecchi Blasts Maverick Vinales for ‘Middle Finger Gesture’
Marco Bezzecchi was sent to hospital after a frightening crash with Maverick Vinales, but it was the gesture from the Aprilia rider which angered Bezzecchi the most
During Saturday’s MotoGP sprint race at Phillip Island, Marco Bezzecchi caused a collision when he rammed into the rear of Maverick Vinales at turn one.
Bezzecchi had just been overtaken by the Aprilia rider, however, the powerful slipstream sucked Bezzecchi in before he suffered a huge snap.
Bezzecchi was too close to avoid Vinales as he violently hit the Aprilia rider as both crashing came off their machines.
A miracle that he was able to compete on Sunday, the Italian was given a Long Lap penalty for Sunday’s race which he admitted he had no issue with. But the gesture from Vinales did upset Bezzecchi, who was clearly in distress and lying in the gravel immediately after the incident.
A furious Vinales showed Bezzecchi the middle finger whilst the pair were in the gravel, and Bezzecchi, who has admitted that Vinales was inconsistent about his views on the clash, said he would not have reacted the same way.
“We talked in the medical centre and told me, ‘No problem, the important thing is that we are fine’. And then he came to the interviews and was very angry with me!
“I didn't like his behaviour immediately after the crash. If it was the reverse, I would go to check how is the other rider instead of doing the middle finger and say ‘f**k’ to me many times after we crash at 300 km/h per hour.
“But anyway, the important thing is that we are fine. I went to Melbourne by helicopter, and I made a scan to the upper part of the body, the neck and head. For the doctor, it was very important to do it. Then I came back and this morning I made another visit with the MotoGP doctor.”
In terms of why race direction gave Bezzecchi a penalty, it deemed the Italian to have changed direction along with late braking than normal.
“At the start of Lap 11, between the finish line and Turn 1 #12 Vinales executed a pass on #72 Bezzecchi without contact.” the statement said. “#12 braked regularly and consistently with his braking position over the previous three laps
“In reviewing the video evidence #72 is observed to start a change of direction, which together with a later braking point and higher velocity, made contact inevitable.
“Taking the above facts into consideration, the Stewards determine that the balance of responsibility for the collision and resulting crash rests clearly with #72.”
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
