A third MotoGP rider was also injured in Bezzecchi-Vinales’ accident

MotoGP was lucky to avoid a more dramatic outcome to the big sprint collision at the Australian Grand Prix between Maverick Vinales and Marco Bezzecchi at the first corner at Phillip Island – Bezzecchi and Vinales were not the only ones affected.

The pair came into contact at Doohan corner (one of the fastest and most intimidating corners on the MotoGP calendar) when Bezzecchi was sucked into the slipstream of Vinales’ bike. This caused the two to crash at high speed and their machines virtually fell apart as they first collided and then plummeted through the gravel bed.

An unfortunate incident late at night 💥

Luckily Maverick has been declared fit and Bez has no fractures, but he has gone to hospital in Melbourne for a full check-up

The incident is also still being investigated by the stewards #AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/6z8hsHSmTu

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 19, 2024

Vinales was treated for severe inflammation of his left elbow, while Bezzecchi, although after an examination at the medical center he was also deemed not to have suffered any fractures or other serious injuries, was taken by rescue helicopter to Melbourne for further assessment.

It was a serious accident for him in particular, as Bezzecchi was face down and did not move in the gravel for ten seconds after landing, but he eventually managed to return to the paddock on a marshal’s motorcycle.

It is not the first time that we have seen a similar incident in Turn 1, due to the layout of the track, the strong gusts of wind in the area of ​​the Phillip Island track, but also the increased slipstream effects of modern MotoGP motorcycles and their aerodynamic devices.

The last such incident involved Marc Marquez and Johann Zarco in 2017 – and while Marquez hadn’t seen a repeat of the Bezzecchi-Vinales accident, he still had a fairly complete picture of how it happened.

One of the scariest #MotoGP Crashes we’ve ever seen! 💢😱@JohannZarco1 And @marcmarquez93 I got tangled up on the Gardner Straight last year at over 185mph! 💥#AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/VWzDQ4afd8

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 23, 2019

“It looks like it was Bezzecchi’s fault, but it was a racing accident. I remember I had the same situation in 2017. I overtook in the slipstream and when I got to the braking point the wind pushed me out.

“You don’t want to go into the middle of the track with these bikes. If you drive in front of the overtaking person, the slipstream will suck him in. You never want to be in front because you know it’s a dangerous situation for you.

“Especially today the wind was pushing sideways and I think Vinales can’t avoid that movement [to go in front of Bezzecchi] and Bezzecchi can’t avoid sucking. The boys arrive at the end of the straight at 320 km/h, [bikes are] tremble, [it’s] windy.”

Vinales blames Bezzecchi

However, it is fair to say that Vinales was less understanding of the possible cause of the crash and instead blamed Bezzecchi.

“If I can race tomorrow, it’s fine,” he said. “Of course I’m fit, but I want to see how I get through the night and how things develop.

“Of course I made my point of view to the stewards and everyone else and of course I realize it was a mistake. In this corner I’m always careful to give the driver a few meters when overtaking, because if he wants to come back he can get the slipstream.

“But from my point of view he tried to overtake me again. That’s my opinion. Because [Fabio] Di Giannantonio was behind and braked at the normal point. It’s always the same, but we have the stewards and they have to decide.”

Aleix Espargaro, Vinales’ Aprilia teammate, confirmed Vinales’ view of the accident.

The stewards postponed their assessment of the incident until Sunday as Bezzecchi was unable to present his case as he was undergoing medical treatment.

Collateral damage after the accident

Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori, who was replacing the injured Miguel Olivera in the Trackhouse Racing team at the race in Australia, was also involved in the accident after the Italian was hit by debris a lap later.

As Savadori crossed the start-finish line to start the final lap, just three tenths of a second behind the LCR Honda bike of Taka Nakagami, he was hit in the right forearm by what he assumed was a Part of the front fender of Bezzecchi’s motorcycle – and that’s not the case yet. I’m not yet sure whether he will be able to take part in Sunday’s main event.

“I’m not fit at the moment [to ride] because I have no power in my hands,” he explained.

“Nothing is broken, but maybe the nerve has withstood the impact and I don’t have the strength at the moment.”

“I have to try the doctor tomorrow morning and if I have some strength I can be fit for the race.”

According to The Race’s sources, the incident understandably caused some anger in the Aprilia camp. Questions were raised about the race management’s decision not to stop the race a lap early because large pieces of debris were clearly visible on the racing line.

“I was lucky because it hit me on the arm,” Savadori added, “but it was a very dangerous situation.” I think it was the front fender, something like that, but at 340 km/h I got that of course not seen. It was really dangerous and I hope everything gets better tonight.”

Di Giannantonio’s lucky escape

However, Savadori was not the only rider affected by the consequences of Bezzecchi and Vinales’ crash. The aforementioned Fabio Di Giannantonio (who was fighting with the two for fifth place at the time) was lucky to escape unscathed from the cloud of debris that followed.

“When you arrive, you arrive at 350 km/h,” he explained. “I saw the crash and it was a scary moment, believe me.

“When you get there and have to control your bike while you see two bikes exploding in front of you, it’s literally scary.

“Some parts of their bikes hit me. I got the titanium plate here [on the shoulder of his Dainese suit] completely destroyed, and some parts on the helmet and the screen. Luckily everyone seems to be fine, but it’s a tough one.”

Acosta has doubts on Sunday

A separate incident could see one less rider on the grid tomorrow after a highside for rookie Pedro Acosta injured the Tech3 racer.

“I have pain in my shoulder,” he said. “It was a difficult question. But [right now it is] not as painful as the blow.

“Nothing is broken. It’s like the shoulder has slipped out and back in and the ligaments are pretty inflamed.

“We hope [we can race tomorrow]but I have to go back for a medical examination tomorrow morning. Let’s see how it goes.”