MotoGp, sparks between Pecco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez: penalty for world champion
Three penalty positions for Bagnaia, to be served on Sunday
After analyzing images of what happened between Pecco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez during Friday’s timed sessions at Mugello, MotoGP commissioners have ordered a penalty for the reigning world champion, guilty in their opinion of 'impending' towards the Team Gresini rider. Bagnaia will lose three grid positions in Sunday’s race, while as far as the Sprint Race is concerned there will be no consequences.
The news will certainly catch Bagnaia by surprise, who had said he was convinced of the bontà of his actions speaking to the microphones of 'Sky Sport': "I was off the trajectory, and I always braked off the trajectory. Surely he (Alex Marquez, ed.) è a great showman, I think it is useless to make gestures like that. It would be ridiculous if I was penalized for that" he had said before the penalty arrived.
Of a completely different opinion was the Spanish driver, who had instead stated firmly: "He was going slow and he was in the middle of the line, I was coming to improve myself, you can clearly see that he didn't turn around to see if someone was coming behind him. I was in the middle of my hot lap, he was in the middle of the track".
Bagnaia finished Friday at Mugello ahead of everyone, the only rider to go under the 1:45 wall (1:44.938 was his time). Alex Marquez, on the other hand, finished pre-qualifying in eighth place with a time of 1:45.412. Both riders are already admitted to Q2, which will decide the starting order for the Sprint Race and (net of the penalty received by Bagnaia) Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
