Bastianini Defends Controversial Move and Penalty Decisions in Dramatic Catalan GP
The intense battle between factory Ducati rider, Enea Bastianini, and Gresini’s Alex Marquez in Sunday’s Catalan GP stirred up a lot of controversy. In the outer reaches of the top 10, Bastianini was forced wide at Turn 1 and ended up running through the run-off area at Turns 1-2. According to Marquez, riders are supposed to demonstrate that they have lost at least a second in lap time to escape punishment. However, the actions of the stewards left many questioning their decisions.
The stewards initially gave Bastianini a long lap penalty, but he ignored it. This was followed by a second penalty, which he also chose to disregard. As a result, he was given a ride-through penalty, which was then converted to a 32-second time punishment for not complying. This ultimately dropped Bastianini from ninth to 18th place.
In the heat of the moment, Bastianini claims that the stewards admitted they made a mistake with their initial decision. Unfortunately, they were unable to reverse the calls after the fact. When asked about the penalties, Bastianini responded, “The dashboard was too clear. I didn’t agree with the dashboard.” He goes on to explain that the only solution he had in that moment was to cut the chicane, as he was unable to remain on the brakes and stay within the track limits.
Despite his disagreement with the penalties, Bastianini’s race analysis shows that he did not cede a second in the incident in question. However, race direction cannot do anything to change the outcome once a penalty has been given. Bastianini also noted that his Ducati team supported his decision to ignore the penalties.
In the aftermath of the race, Bastianini and his team sat down with race officials to review the incident. He states that they acknowledged that their initial decision was wrong, but it was too late to make any changes. In an attempt to regain his ninth position, Bastianini pleaded his case, stating that he lost a second in the process of re-entering the track. However, his efforts were in vain.
Kosport Magazine’s Take: It’s always a shame to see a race filled with such drama and controversy. While race officials have a difficult job, it’s important for them to make fair and just decisions. Mistakes can happen, but it’s crucial for them to review and correct their decisions in a timely manner. Hopefully, this incident will serve as a learning experience for all involved and lead to better and more consistent decisions in the future.
