Red Bull Ring installs Turn 3 barriers after MotoGP near-miss

MotoGP
August 21, 2020
- Last updated: August 22nd 2020
New safety wall being installed at the Red Bull Ring following the MotoGP Austrian GP crash between Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco

Turn Three safety wall being installed

Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images

August 21, 2020

A new air fence and safety wall have been installed at Turn Three of the Red Bull Ring ahead of this weekend’s MotoGP round — following last Sunday’s huge accident.

The barrier is aimed at preventing a repeat of the Austrian GP near-miss following Franco Morbidelli’s collision with Johann Zarco at Turn Two kink.

Both wrecked bikes skidded across the gravel and back onto the circuit at the tight Turn Three right-hander in a shower of smashed parts, Morbidelli’s Yamaha missing Valentino Rossi by inches.

A video released on MotoGP’s social media channels shows the rapid construction of a wall, perpendicular to the circuit, designed to block debris from re-entering the track.

However, the wall appears unlikely to have stopped Morbidelli’s bike, which skirted the edge of the circuit on its way up to the corner. Riders have also expressed concerns about coming off their bike and hitting the wall at a part of the track where speeds hit 195mph.

 

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“If you extend the catchfence, imagine what would happens if you run off track at Turn Two – you’d run straight into the catchfence,” said Cal Crutchlow in Mat Oxley’s column last Monday. “As it is, at least you’ve got a chance of going straight.”

Crutchlow said it was a “no-win” situation, given the alternative of leaving the layout as is and risking a similar accident, where riders were less fortunate to avoid flying debris.

Valentino Rossi said that everybody should pray following the crash and in a social media post, called for more caution among riders. “I understand that in the race we play for so much and everyone gives their best to be at the front, but we must not forget that ours is a dangerous sport, and the safety of us and our opponents is far more important than gaining a position,” he wrote.

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