Marco Bezzecchi
Former MotoGP rider Loris Baz believes the Catalan Grand Prix track needs to be replanned after yet another dangerous pileup.
After Alex Marquez’s horrific crash at the Catalan Grand Prix, the red flags came out, suspending the race for a few minutes.
The second race start didn’t go very well, as Johann Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia, and Luca Marini ended up crashing in the first lap of the resumption.
What safety changes, if any, do you want to see after the Catalan Grand Prix red flags?
Zarco was confirmed to have injured his knee after being taken to a nearby hospital to be evaluated. But his crash has resulted in people demanding changes to the Catalan Grand Prix.
In particular, former MotoGP rider Loris Baz wants a replanning of the Montmelo circuit, as there is one portion of the track that always leads to issues.
READ MORE: Who is LCR Honda rider Johann Zarco? Everything you need to know from career stats to net worth
Loris Baz says first corner of Montmelo circuit always leads to crashes
Responding to journalist Simon Patterson on X about criticism of the second race start at the Catalan Grand Prix, Loris Baz pointed to a larger problem at Montmelo.
He noted that the first corner of the track almost always leads to a big pile up and crashes at the start of the race, due to how sharp it is.
“First corner in Barcelona… There is almost always a big pile up every year! Never understood why the starting grid is not closer to the first corner to avoid arriving at 300.”
Baz’s comments are backed by recent examples. The starts of both the 2023 and 2024 Catalan Grand Prix were spoiled due to major crashes at the first turn.
The 2023 Catalan Grand Prix start in particular was incredibly brutal, with several riders including Francesco Bagnaia crashing and being run over on his foot.
READ MORE: Gresini say Alex Marquez is ‘fine’ as he awaits hospital scans after Catalan GP crash
Is Barcelona too dangerous for MotoGP?
The Catalan Grand Prix sees ANOTHER red flag as Bagnaia crashes with Marini and Zarco
MotoGP facing far more serious questions after Catalan Grand Prix
It’s safe to say that the Catalan Grand Prix did not go the way MotoGP officials would have hoped for. Crashes are never ideal, but the ones we saw today were downright brutal.
On top of that, MotoGP’s unsavoury crash replays did not go down well with fans, with many feeling that it was in poor taste to show such a dangerous moment.
The entire event was such a disaster that Fabio Di Giannantonio’s win has become one of the less prominent conversations after the race.
And with several riders receiving 16-second penalties for tyre pressure, fans have questioned the need or the efficacy of these penalties.
The coming days will bring about a lot of questions that need answering for MotoGP officials, especially with there now being a two-week gap till the next race.
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