2023-11-18 17:47:04
The Catalan pilot Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) has been penalized with six positions on the starting grid of the Qatar Grand Prix Sunday race and with a 10,000 euro fine for his “aggressive behavior” with the Italian Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha) during the second free practice in Losailhas announced the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM).
The fight between both on the track, with an exchange of overtakes and some contact, angered the Catalan, who dealt a strong blow to the transalpine’s helmet while both were still riding on the motorcycle. Following the incident, commissioners launched an investigation.
Maximum tension between Aleix Espargaró and Franco Morbidelli ????
There were more than words after the clash in FP2#QatarGP ???????? #MotoGP ???? pic.twitter.com/PAWqgqAoPP
— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) November 18, 2023
Hours later, the FIM Stewards Panel for MotoGP confirmed the penalty of six places on the grid for the rider from Granollers, who finished tenth in Q2 and will start sixteenth this Sunday on the Qatari track.
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“During Free Practice Session 2 (…) it was observed that he had behaved aggressively, including physically hitting rider number 21. This contravenes article 3.3.2.2 of the World Championship regulations,” the FIM said.
The eldest Espargaró was not the only driver who has received a penalty on the Losail grid, since the Spanish Iker Lecuona was penalized with three positions for going slow on the line and obstructing the Italian Enea Bastianini in his attempt to return. .
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