P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aleix Espargaro was clearly at fault in ending ruling himself and Brad Binder out of the MotoGP podium battle in the Indonesia sprint – but he rightly went unpenalised
American Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro caused a crash during the MotoGP race in Indonesia, involving Red Bull KTM racer Brad Binder. Many expected Espargaro to receive a penalty, but to everyone’s surprise, he escaped without any sanction. This may suggest that the recent words of MotoGP chief steward Freddie Spencer had an impact. Spencer had previously met with riders to discuss their concerns about being penalized for minor infractions. Before the Indonesian crash, riders had been facing sanctions even for minimal contact with opponents, which six-time world champion Marc Marquez strongly opposed. It seems that the stewards took the riders’ feedback into account and adjusted their approach accordingly. This incident was the first real test of the new approach, as it fell into the grey area that previously would have resulted in a penalty. Espargaro admitted his mistake and took responsibility for the crash, blaming the dirty track and low grip.
Source: The Race
