Bagnaia, sanctioned at Mugello after the incident with Alex Marquez
Pecco Bagnaia sanctioned at Italian MotoGP Grand Prix. The reigning world champion was disqualified by 3 positions for Sunday’s race in Mugello after an incident during practice this Friday in which he disturbed Alex Marquez.
Midway through the session, the official Ducati rider and the Gresini Racing rider met after passing Turn 11 of the trans-alpine Palagio Circuit on their way to Turn 12 of Correntaio, one of the circuit’s most legendary points. Banaia has already completed his fastest lap, while junior Márquez Alenta has set his fastest time. But in the end he got tired of the Italian, which caused angry complaints from the Spaniard.
After these images were shown at an international event, senior stewards began to investigate what happened. And a few hours after free training, they announced their decision to punish No. 1. Thus, they explained that it was an action for “Driving slowly on the track during the last 20 minutes of practice, interfering with another driver and directly affecting your pass to the second segment.No further positions were imposed on him, as this was his first violation of this kind in 2024.
This did not please Banaya and Ducati, who subsequently They officially protested this decision, paying 1,320 euros. However, the appeal commissioners of the International Motorcycle Federation rejected the appeal. and they supported the views of the Group led by Freddie Spencer.
Banyaya found it “ridiculous” that Race Direction investigated the incident, given that he braked off the line and it did not bother Alex Marquez.whom he accused of putting on a “show” with his gestures, something decisive for the Commission to take into account what happened in the course of the action.
No. 73, for his part, refuted the version of the Ducati team leader, believing that he was already braking from the second sector, and that he was waiting for him to decide to turn around and not bother, which ultimately did not happen. . However, he did not want to talk more about the issue or whether he deserved a sanction, since it was already in the hands of the championship judges.
Bagnaia will therefore face a hurdle this weekend in which he looks the favourite. On one of his favorite circuits, and not only because he was in Mugello, at home and in front of his fans, the Piedmontese topped the practice schedule, well ahead of the rest of the favorites, making him a candidate for pole and victory.
In addition, other drivers were fined €500 for failing to return to the pit lane with a red flag during the start of Free Practice 1, as follows: Luca Marini, Raul Fernandez, Jack Miller, Pol Espargaro, Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.