Two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia has questioned the decision to start Sunday’s Moto3 race at the Sepang International Circuit after two riders were injured on the sighting lap.
As the pitlane opened up for the first race of the day, newly-crowned champion Jose Antonio Rueda crashed into the rear of Noah Dettwiler exiting Turn 3 on his way to the grid, leaving both riders on the ground.
The accident was triggered by the differing closing speeds of the two bikes, with Dettwiler’s KTM believed to have slowed down due to mechanical issues.
Both Rueda and Dettwiler were reported to be conscious but had to be airlifted to hospital for check-ups – where they remain at the timing of writing.
It was only after the MotoGP race had concluded that officials confirmed Rueda had escaped the accident with a suspected hand fracture and multiple contusions, while a full update on Dettwiler is still awaited.
Although the schedule was revised in the wake of the crash following a prolonged red flag, all three races went ahead as planned, with the Moto3 event cut short to 10 laps.
Factory Ducati Bagnaia rider made it clear that he was unhappy with the decision to hold the Moto3 race given the severity of the accident.
“To let the young riders [in Moto3] do a 10 lap race in those conditions after seeing helicopters going away with two of them, it’s not a perfect idea. I would never understand it, but it’s what it is,” he said.
“Luckily, I’m not the one that needs to make these kinds of decisions, I think different things are done in a way that I would not do, but it’s what it is.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Network
Factory Honda rider Joan Mir, who finished third, said it was hard for everyone in the paddock to switch focus after witnessing the incident.
“It has been very difficult for all the riders today to put on their suits given the situation we have experienced in Moto3,” he said.
“I have received some favourable news from the organisation, and that somehow gives us peace of mind. It has been difficult, and I hope that things will improve as the hours go by,” he added.
VR46’s Franco Morbidelli added that uncertainty about the riders’ conditions made it even tougher for him to prepare mentally for the race.
An update on Rueda’s condition arrived only midway through Morbidelli’s post-race media debrief.
“We have no news, that’s the main issue, we have no news, so I’m waiting for some news,” he said. “That’s what we should all hope for the best. Our job is to race and we race. I tell you my worry at the moment.”
When asked how difficult it was to get into the zone after watching the crash, Morbidelli said: “I think I didn’t manage to.”
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi echoed Morbidelli’s sentiment, stressing that riders should be kept informed about the situation following the Moto3 crash.
“It has been super tough,” he said. “It’s still tough because we don’t have clear information. It’s not the best because I think that we deserve to know at least what’s happening.
“The only thing I know is that I think they are quite stable, but I don’t know anything more.
“It was not the best day starting like this, seeing such a bad accident, but also not knowing anything about this.
“Seeing two helicopters go away and no news or anything, it was not the best. But we deserve to know what’s happening, because we are also riders.
“We have to go there and fight with the bikes and try to make the best performance that we can. But at least we have to have a clear mind.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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