Ducati MotoGP rider Pecco Bagnaia has confirmed reports that he was involved in a car accident in Ibiza on Tuesday morning, after which he returned an alcohol breath sample that was more than three times the legal limit.
The crash, which was first reported by local news site Periodico de Ibiza, which also published photographs of the incident, was attended by both the Guardia Civil and local police in the town of Sant Josep in the south west of the island, which is visited by members of the MotoGP paddock during the summer.
Bagnaia was breathalysed at the scene, and is reported to have returned a score of 0.87mg/L of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit in Spain is 0.25mg/L.
The Italian took to social media on Tuesday evening to confirm the report, admitting that he had been involved in a crash and was found to be above the drink-driving limit in the aftermath.
“Last night I was in lbiza with my friends for a party during this break from MotoGP,” he explained.
“We celebrated and toasted together for my victory at the Dutch GP. As I was leaving the disco at 3am, I was facing a roundabout when I ended up with the front wheels in a ditch without involving other vehicles or people.
“However, the alcohol test carried out by the police found that the blood alcohol level was higher than what is allowed by Spanish law. I am sorry for what happened; I am practically a non-drinker, and it was a serious carelessness that should not have happened.
“I apologise to everyone, and I can assure you that I have learned my lesson. Never get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.”
The last active rider to be charged with a drink-driving offence was former MotoGP racer Hector Barbera, who was stopped by police in 2018. It was the second time that he was caught for the offence, and he subsequently lost his ride at Pons Racing in the Moto2 championship.
Bagnaia’s Ducati team has confirmed to The Race that it will not be commenting at this time.
