MotoGP Widens Grid Row Spacing from German GP After Barcelona Crash
Teams have agreed to increase the distance between grid rows from the Sachsenring round onwards, a direct response to the multi-rider crash at Barcelona that left Johann Zarco still recovering.
By Paddock Passion News Desk1 min read
MotoGP teams have agreed to increase the spacing between rows on the starting grid from the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring onwards, Motorsport.com has reported.
The decision follows the multi-rider collision at Turn 1 of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during the first restart of the Catalan Grand Prix, in which Johann Zarco and Alex Marquez both sustained serious injuries.Zarco had not yet fully recovered at the time of the measure being confirmed.
Safety Overhaul Gathers Pace
The grid-spacing change is one of several safety measures under discussion since Barcelona. MotoGP's chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta outlined a range of proposals during the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Mugello, apparently prompted by the Catalan incident.
However, two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia publicly questioned the effectiveness of the ideas Ezpeleta floated, casting doubt on the direction of the proposed amendments.
Separately, the series is also reported to be considering an F1-style starting grid layout as a potential trial measure following the Barcelona crash.