Is a new precedent for the rules of engagement now set?
Rather unsurprisingly, the last lap moment between Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini that decided the outcome of the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has dominated conversation since the chequered flag was waved on MotoGP’s 14th round of the season.Bastianini saw a gap into Turn 4 and launched his factory Ducati up the inside. Martin was beginning to turn as the Italian drew alongside, but there was a slight bit of contact.
“I think there was no room to make that move,” Martin argued. “There is not a lot of sense to keep talking about it because it won’t change anything. But for sure I think I deserved that victory. At least if he made a move, at least do it clean and don’t touch me.” Ironically, when Bagnaia at the time was pressed for his thoughts on that, he said: “I think it’s cool it was him who was doing that, so it’s opening a situation that I like.”
Bastianini had been able to study Martin’s advantage for all the time he was sat behind him, and he determined that Turn 4 was his only chance. Martin was too strong in the second half of the lap and Bastianini wouldn’t have been able to do anything in those final big braking zones at Turn 14 and Turn 16.
That isn’t a totally unheard of approach, either. In the National Hockey League in North America, referees aren’t as stringent with penalty calls - especially in sudden-death overtime situations - during the playoffs in order to not have an overarching influence on results. This largely applies to calls that aren’t especially clear cut.
The FIM’s rule book, under Article 1.21.2 states: “Riders must ride in a responsible manner which does not cause danger to other competitors or participants or gain an unfair advantage, either on the track or in the pitlane. Any infringement of this rule may be penalised by the FIM MotoGP Stewards.” That’s not exactly new, either, but in such a public incident that then reverberated through the paddock, why the stewards didn’t see fit to provide transparency and explain its decision is baffling. And it once again raises questions about the effectiveness of the current stewarding process in MotoGP.The rest of the grid were split over it. The likes of Aleix Espargaro, Luca Marini and Marc Marquez felt the move crossed a line and the lack of penalty wasn’t the right call.
Inconsistency has been a constant frustration with the current stewards panel helmed by double 500cc world champion Freddie Spencer. So much so that Zarco blew up in the stewards room after a collision with Aleix Espargaro at Jerez - which was deemed a racing incident. Racing in MotoGP, with the current front tyre, massive amounts of aero load and ride height device, is infinitely harder to do. At the San Marino GP, Bagnaia noted that he couldn’t do anything to pass Martin in the sprint because of the turbulent air and heat coming from his bike. And again in the Emilia Romagna GP weekend, overtaking was at a premium.
Now, MotoGP hasn’t exactly been a demolition derby over the years. But flick through the history book and you’ll find plenty of example of over-the-limit, last lap overtakes that never went unpunished. And are, in fact, celebrated.
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