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Many MotoGP riders have been left frustrated at the lack of improvement works conducted at the Red Bull Ring ahead of the two races at the Austrian venue and that demands for alterations following the 2020 crashes were not acted on.
Last year’s first Austria race featured a high-profile crash between Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco that left bikes hurtling across the pack’s path at high speed, with both Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales exceptionally lucky to escape serious injury.
Proof that miracles can happen…
Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales had the racing Gods looking down on them 🙏#AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/lOWmbZsOqx
— BT Sport (@btsport) August 16, 2020
That prompted calls for the circuit’s Turn 3 to be redesigned ahead of this year’s race, in an attempt to alter the trajectory of crashed bikes should a repeat of the incident occur.
However, those calls have not been heeded, leaving riders hitting out at the venue ahead of this weekend’s race.
“I don’t think it’s difficult [to change], but this circuit is a nightmare,” said Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro.
“We are saying that we need to change a couple of things for the last three years, but nothing is happening.
“Last year and this, due to the pandemic, we have two races, so there is two times the risk.
“I hope that we’ll have no rain and that we’ll be able to race in the dry, because this circuit is not the best one from a safety side.
“It’s disappointing to see that nothing has been done. You can’t imagine how much we’ve pushed.”
His views were echoed by the returning Cal Crutchlow, who steps into Petronas Yamaha this weekend to replace the injured Morbidelli.
A vociferous advocate for safety during his time as a full-time MotoGP rider, the Brit says he’s very disappointed to discover that nothing has been done to adjust the corner in the past year.
“I don’t think most of this track is safe, let alone from Turn 2 to Turn 3,” Crutchlow said when asked about track safety by The Race.
“I didn’t attend many safety commissions last year, but I attended the one here, and they said that they were going to change the circuit layout.
“Obviously I haven’t been keeping up with the situation, but they haven’t changed it for one reason or another, which seems a little strange.
“It is what it is, and the riders in MotoGP are 24 of the best in the world and we understand the situation. Everyone has to try and give each other respect, but sometimes you can’t avoid a situation.
“This place is really slippery in the wet, and that’s one of the worst places on it.
“But unless we get the diggers out and change a few things, nothing is going to happen.”
That’s a sentiment echoed by reigning world champion Joan Mir, who admitted that the potential for problems on the run from the Turn 2 kink to the tight Turn 3 means that every rider on the grid is going to have to be slightly more cautious through that section all weekend.
“I think that in that corner, we know what can happen,” said the Suzuki rider, “and it’s important to have a bit of respect for it, to try and avoid manoeuvres.
“We can’t say that we’re going to try and not overtake there, but it’s important that we all know that it’s dangerous, not just for us but for the other people making the corner.
“Apart from that, I think it is a really dangerous corner. The safety measures are not here yet, and I hope for next year that we’ll have news of this.”
