WATCH: Valentino Rossi’s brother goes airborne in a violent high-side crash at Le Mans Junior MotoGP race

Revisit Luca Marini’s 2020 horror crash at Le Mans during his Moto2 days.


WATCH: Valentino Rossi’s brother goes airborne in a violent high-side crash at Le Mans Junior MotoGP race

Luca Marini Le Mans crash (via motorsportweek)

In 2020, Luca Marini was riding for the Sky VR46 team in the intermediate class of MotoGP -Moto2. The Italian, also the half-brother of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, suffered a horrific high-side at Le Mans during the FP2 session. The Grand Prix weekend was scheduled for mid-October in 2020.

The current Mooney VR46 racing team rider was violently flung from his Kalex at La Chapelle at Turn 4 in the early stages of the practice session. The rider appeared to be airborne for quite a long time as the Turn 4 on the Bugatti circuit is a tricky downhill right turn. Marini’s bike slid through the grass and returned to the track following the high side. The session was later red-flagged due to the bike’s debris being on the race track.

YouTube video

Marini was rushed to a local hospital following an inconclusive scan [as reported by motorsport.com] at the track’s facility for a fracture to his left ankle. Luca was cleared to race in the Sunday Grand Prix, but the crash came at an unfortunate time for the youngster.

FS Video

Marini led the Moto2 World Championship with 20 points when the crash occurred. The Italian appeared to be experiencing pain during the Grand Prix and only managed a P17 finish, scoring zero points. Sam Lowes took the French GP win, and Luca Marini missed out on becoming the 2020 Moto2 World Champion as Enea Bastianini took the crown in the frantic year.

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Luca Marini’s unfortunate Indian GP recently

The Italian, currently racing for the Mooney VR46 Racing team, looked on song at the Buddh International Circuit during the Friday practice sessions. The inaugural Grand Prix in India was one of the most awaited races this season, and spirits were incredibly high as the MotoGP paddock arrived in India. Valentino Rossi is extremely famous in the sub-continent, and the Legend’s fans were loud in support of Marini.

Luca Marini Indian GP crash (via espn)
Luca Marini Indian GP crash (via ESPN)

The young Italian topped the time sheets on Friday, ****clocking the fastest time of 1:44:782 around the BIC. Marini appeared to be a strong contender for the Grand Prix win on Sunday. But tragedy struck the 26-year-old on Saturday as he crashed heavily out of the Tissot Sprint Race.

Marini tagged the back of his teammate’s bike going into Turn 1 in the opening lap of the race. Marco Bezzecchi was defending against number 10 (Luca Marini) following his bad start from pole. Marini ended up in the gravel after the collision, while Bezzechi took an eventual P5 finish in the Sprint.

Luca Marini was declared unfit for the Sunday Grand Prix as the reports showed a broken collarbone. This decision cut short the Italian’s hope for the Indian GP win or a Podium. Bezzecchi took the eventual victory on Sunday while Marini watched the Grand Prix as an on-looker.

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