Max Verstappen is not allowed to ride a MotoGP bike and here’s why :
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Max Verstappen (IMAGO / Motorsport Images)
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been unstoppable during the 2022 season. Having acquired a total of 14 record breaking race victories, he has shown that he is a force to be reckoned with. Even though it is clear that the 2 time world champion can master anything that he gets his hands on, he is prohibited from riding a MotoGP bike.
After the glorious F1 season came to an end, Verstappen and the Red Bull boys went to Japan in order to celebrate Honda Thanks day. With Honda being a core partner with Red Bull’s F1 and MotoGP drivers, it was clear that the lot would be present there. During their time spent at the Japanese manufacturer’s event, Max got a chance to sit on Marc Marquez’s Honda MotoGP bike.
In F1, the driver needs to be 100% fit in order to drive the Formula One car otherwise he won’t clear the medical test. During the off season, drivers tend to take part in activities that could possibly harm them or endanger their lives. Most of the time, the team would stop their driver for doing so in the first place. Such seems to be the case with Red Bull’s F1 driver Max Emillian Verstappen.
Red Bull won’t allow Max Verstappen to ride a MotoGP bike
When MotoGP legend Marquez and Verstappen sat down for a chat, they went on to discuss about their respective sport. The Dutchman went on to express his interest in MotoGP and his intent to try the bike itself. Here is what Max had to say about the riders. “These guys are crazy. The speeds you have on the straights, the horsepower on the bike – I would like to try it someday but I’m still now allowed.”
Marc Marquez jumped at the last sentence and went on to ask his fellow Red Bull athlete as to why he is not allowed. However he only replied with “The team still doesn’t allow me to do it.” This was obviously sad but understandable when you think about it from the team’s perspective. MotoGP is a more dangerous sport compared to F1 and the risk of injury is constantly circling above your head.
The team obviously wants Verstappen to be safe and not try anything crazy which will leave him injured before next season. An injury will delay training and reduce your preparedness for next season. However Lewis Hamilton did in-fact ride a MotoGP bike when he did a swap with Valentino Rossi for a Monster Energy collaboration. Maybe Max could do the same someday with Red Bull.
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Varad Joshi
(940 Articles Published)