Mir and Morbidelli Clash at Portimao MotoGP Race
The Portimao MotoGP race on Sunday was full of excitement and drama, with one particular incident catching the attention of fans and riders alike. Pramac Ducati rider Franco Morbidelli and Repsol Honda rider Joan Mir found themselves in a heated battle for position, resulting in a collision that left Mir struggling for the rest of the race.
Despite starting three positions ahead of Mir, Morbidelli’s poor start dropped him down the order and into the clutches of his Honda rival. As they fought for position, Morbidelli made contact with Mir, causing the Spaniard to go wide and lose several positions.
Mir, who eventually finished in 12th place, felt that Morbidelli’s aggressive riding was uncalled for given the position they were in. He stated, “In that position you have to stay a bit calm in the first laps… Morbidelli wasn’t. He just came to me. He hit me with a lot of speed.”
The incident not only affected Mir’s race, but also caused damage to his Honda. Mir explained, “The rear part of the bike, the wing tail and all these things were gone… I was struggling without the wings, to stop the bike in Turn 1 was a challenge.”
Morbidelli, on the other hand, defended his actions and downplayed his role in the collision. He stated, “It’s part of racing when you are in the group… I just went on the inside and we touched and then from then on I just went wide.”
Despite the clash, both riders were able to continue the race. Mir eventually finished in 12th place, while Morbidelli managed to gain some crucial mileage on his Ducati and finish in 18th place.
Mir did not feel that Morbidelli deserved a penalty for the incident, as the crash itself was punishment enough. He stated, “Well, he crashed, no? So he was penalised… He didn’t want to crash, he doesn’t want to crash. So this is the penalty that he got.”
Morbidelli, who missed both pre-season tests due to a serious crash in January, saw the race as a learning experience. He stated, “We keep our learning curve with this bike and I can go home pretty satisfied… So that’s encouraging because still I need to learn everything and I need to get in tune with everything.”
The clash between Mir and Morbidelli may have been a thrilling moment for fans, but it serves as a reminder of the dangers and risks involved in MotoGP racing. As Mir stated, “Let’s hope that in the next one that riders on the back think a bit more on the first laps. That will also be safer for everyone.”
Short Summary:
Mir and Morbidelli’s clash at the Portimao MotoGP race caused drama and damage for both riders. While Mir struggled to finish
