“It was a dangerous move,” Marini and Joan Mir offer contrasting opinions on unfortunate contact at Dutch GP

“It was a dangerous move,” Marini and Joan Mir offer contrasting opinions on unfortunate contact at Dutch GP

Joan Mir

A frantic start at last week’s MotoGP round in Assen caused contact between Luca Marini and Joan Mir. The 2020 world champion already had a moment with Miguel Olivera before lining up on the grid for the race where Mir suddenly braked in order to activate the front holeshot device.

A holeshot device is mainly used to lower the center of gravity on the bike. Following that attempt, Olivera did not see it coming and proceeded to clip the rear of the Suzuki rider’s bike which in turn took off the winglet on #88 rider’s bike causing him to lose one tenth per lap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u70XBHQ4Wnc

“I think he lost a wing, but it was a pretty hard hit. Luckily we could start the race,” said Mir while describing the unfortunate contact between both the riders.

FS Video

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“Maybe it was not Mir’s fault” : Luca Marini

Joan Mir
Joan Mir

Although this was just some icing on the cake for the Suzuki rider as the race was yet to start. Once the lights went out in Assen, Joan Mir got an impressive launch and decided to opt for the outside line. Unfortunately, that decision did not pan out well as Marini moved slightly back which led to Mir coming into contact with Marini.

“On the bike I just made my start, made my line and Joan cut my line. I don’t know why,” said Marini. Maybe it was not his fault because when the bike starts to wheelie it can be difficult to control,” he added.

Meanwhile the Suzuki rider had this to say to the media- “With Luca, I started pretty well and was faster than him so I could go a bit left to take the outside, but then he wheelied a bit so we both touched.”

In the end, both the incidents were deemed as racing incidents and a potentially dangerous crash was avoided. Marini later said, “Maybe it was not his fault because when the bike starts to wheelie it can be difficult to control.”

“But for sure, it was a dangerous movement. I tried to avoid contact but it was impossible. I was lucky to not crash there as there were many riders behind me,” he continued.

Both the riders came out unharmed from the contact and continued on with the race where Mir finished 8th ahead of Marini who finished down in 17th position.

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