Moto2 Riders Penalised After Bizarre Pit Lane Crash

The jury is still out on whether you can refer to the usual rough and tumble of motorcycle racing as examples of SMIDSY (sorry mate, I didn’t see you), not least because it is difficult to shake a fist and/or flip the bird at the culprit while somersaulting at high speed.

However, this bizarre collision between Moto2 riders Tony Arbolino and Zonta van den Goorbergh is certainly more relatable to a larger majority since it appears the guilty party here really didn’t see his no-longer mate.

Indeed, while there isn’t generally a requirement to adhere to the usual green cross code in racing conditions, unless you indicate by dangling your leg, on this occasion the traffic lights at the end of the pit lane were red. Perhaps it was all just an illusion of having a red light, a red bike and a red-attired marshal throwing shapes that cancelled one another out into a transparent void.

Or he just wasn’t paying attention.

Either way, skill though it is to rear-end a slimline motorcycle almost head-on, it’s a scary collision that could have been a lot, more so if it was at a higher speed or nearer the barrier.

In the end, both riders were penalised. Arbolino was given a three-place grid penalty for the Thailand Grand Prix, and van den Goorbergh will be forced to start from the pit lane of his next GP

Arbolino has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Thai GP, while van den Goorbergh will have to start from pitlane from the next grand prix he competes in (which is due to be at Buriram).

The stewards released a statement about the incident, which reads:

“During the session at 10:02 #14 crashed at Turn 11, the bike and rider were recovered on the run-off area which also forms the start of the pitlane.

“#14 Arbolino was being pushed by the marshals along the pitlane, without engine power. The process was taking its time and placing the marshals and rider at risk. The marshals indicated to #14 to take the service road, but instead the rider continued to ‘paddle’ the bike without power along pitlane. The marshals continues to intervene.

“Two riders entered the pitlane without incident, clearly respecting the “yellow zone” and obvious obstruction. At this point #84 VD Goorbergh then entered the pitlane at speed, and appeared to make no attempt to meaningfully slow down despite the pitlane being clearly and partially obstructed. #84 then rode towards the stationary bike and the attending marshal, heavily braking with the rear wheel visibly locked, making contact with the #14, causing him to fall from the bike, sustaining an injury and narrowly avoiding the marshal.

“At all times during this incident, a yellow light panel and yellow waved flag was presented. The yellow zone starting from prior to T11 and ending at point just beyond the 60KPH speed limit point.

“The stewards consider that the incident was entirely avoidable and the actions of #84 in particular placed a marshal at extreme risk.

“The stewards also consider that #14 did not follow the instructions of the marshals to leave the pitlane/run-off area and enter the adjacent service road.”