Marquez ’ s call Honda to action
Fenati , Fernandez penalized for fisticuffs
There was a Moto3™ penalty with a difference handed out on Friday . Max Racing Husqvarna team-mates Romano Fenati and Adrian Fernandez were handed two Long Lap Penalties for Sunday ’ s race after the pair came to blows in the team garage after FP1 .
Fenati was incensed with Fernandez ’ s riding at the close of the session and began gesticulating in his direction once they took the checkered flag . He was further angered by Fernandez brakechecking him when the pair stopped for a practice start on the back straight . It ’ s then believed the pair had to be separated when they returned to their garage .
The FIM Stewards ’ decision to punish them both stated they were “ found to be riding in an irresponsible manner and after arriving at the pit box displaying aggressive behaviour with another rider .” And all of this happened one day before team owner Max Biaggi ’ s 50th birthday …
Marc Marquez called Honda to act immediately to resolve an electronic issue that caused a monumental high-side at turn 10 in FP2 . The Catalan recognised he was fortunate in the extreme to walk away from the fall , and later pointed to an issue with the set-up of the RC213V ’ s electronics package which needs to be remedied as soon as possible .
“ We cannot have these kinds of crashes . The electronics are there to avoid this type of crashes . The thing is only Honda riders have these kinds of highsides . In Portimao Alex ( Marquez ) and Pol ( Espargaro had similar crashes ). Here me . It was a similar crash in 2020 in Jerez . I checked the data if I did something wrong . This time I was riding in the same way as the previous lap . But just the TC didn ’ t keep the slide .” Although battered and bruised , he rescued seventh place , and praised a new frame HRC had brought to Assen .
“ Here we received the 1st item that more or less is different and works this year , which is the new chassis , which I raced with . That gives us extra motivation .” The rest best watch out in August .
Morbidelli KO ’ d , Crutchlow in
Franco Morbidelli ’ s season has gone from bad to worse with news the Italian reinjured the left knee that has caused him problems since mid-May . The problem first came to light at the French Grand Prix , when the 26-year-old collapsed during a bike swap at the close of a free practice session .
A training accident on the Tuesday of this week injured the knee further , forcing him to undergo surgery on Friday and miss the Dutch TT . The procedure at the Casa di Cura Madre Fortunata Toniolo hospital in Bologna , Italy by Professor Maurilio Maracci was deemed a success , with the rehabilitation programme thought to last eight weeks .
In Morbidelli ’ s case , Yamaha test rider and three-time MotoGP™ race winner Cal Crutchlow will take his place for the next three races .
This week ... | MotoGP TM | 45