Bastianini questions safety of MotoGP racing at Balaton Park

Tech3 KTM rider Enea Bastianini has questioned the safety of MotoGP races at the new Balaton Park circuit after he was injured during a chaotic first lap in Saturday’s Hungarian Grand Prix sprint.

Bastianini was speared wide at the first corner after a desperate lunge by Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo. It was in the course of this collision, for which Quartararo has earned a long lap penalty on Sunday, that Bastianini hurt his back.

“During that contact, I received a very hard contact on my back, and now I don’t feel so good,” he said after the sprint. “But nothing is broken, it’s good.”

Attempting to recover later on the first lap, Bastianini crashed into Johann Zarco as he tried to brake for Turn 9 with a jammed ride-height device. He will have to serve a double long lap on Sunday for that transgression.

But the Italian was relaxed about Quartararo’s mistake at the first corner, preferring to lay the blame on the circuit instead.

“You know, this track is difficult, especially during the first lap for us, for the MotoGP [bikes]. I can understand the mistake from Fabio. He came to my box to say sorry, but I know it’s like this.

“I think when you are alone, the track is good, I like it. But on the first lap in MotoGP it can be dangerous, because we have many things to do. We have many devices, it depends on many things. And, well, the aerodynamics also… you know, it’s a small track.”

While the riders’ reception for the circuit was generally positive on Friday, predictions about first-lap incidents unfortunately proved true.

Furthermore, social media clips have emerged showing Pedro Acosta’s cartwheeling bike hitting a television camera after he crashed at the fast Turn 8 during qualifying on Saturday morning.

A clean Sunday is thus arguably crucial to the reputation with which the circuit emerges from its first weekend.

Balaton Park Circuit board member Gianpaolo Matteucci was both pleased and optimistic about the track’s first MotoGP race at this stage of the weekend, according to the end-of-day press release.

“We are delighted with the event so far and the way the riders have reacted to the circuit,” he said. “Those who had tested here were already impressed with it, and those for whom it was new this weekend have expressed very similar views.

“The word ‘unique’ is one we are hearing from the riders. They all love challenges and it is obvious our circuit has offered them this. Today, the fans were certainly entertained and I am sure it will be the same tomorrow for the grand prix.”

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Bastianini will get a second chance on Sunday after qualifying a strong fourth, though the double long lap will rule out a podium unless there is extreme attrition. He also noted that the after-effects of Saturday’s knock could be an issue in the grand prix.

“Tomorrow depends a bit on how my physical condition feels in the morning,” said the in-form rider.