Enea Bastianini, rider of Red Bull KTM Tech 3, has expressed his frustration over insufficient progress on safety issues within MotoGP. The racer has decided to stop attending meetings of the Safety Commission, which take place on Fridays during races, due to his disappointment with the lack of positive results.
Recently, safety for riders has regained importance in MotoGP activity, especially following problems with the track surface during the Brazilian Grand Prix, where issues like a hole and asphalt degradation were raised. Additionally, the competition is preparing to hold its first race on a true urban circuit, with the Adelaide edition replacing Phillip Island as the venue for the Australian Grand Prix in 2027.
Bastianini has expressed his disappointment regarding the commission, stating that he has not seen significant changes. “We talk a lot about safety, but there are not always changes,” he commented. “I haven’t attended the Safety Commission this year because I haven’t noticed differences,” he added.
The Italian rider, who suffered an accident with Fabio Quartararo during his first visit to Balaton Park, is eager to see if improvements have been made to the circuit before MotoGP’s return to the Hungarian Grand Prix this June.
The need for a union of riders
Unlike the Grand Prix Drivers Association that exists in Formula 1, MotoGP does not have a similar organization that represents the interests of riders. Bastianini believes that a formal association could be very beneficial, as currently there is only representation for teams and manufacturers through IRTA and MSMA.
“We need to do something different. In the past, there was an attempt to form a new organization, but there was no consensus among all the riders,” he declared. “Safety is, for me, the top priority, and I hope that in the future we have this unity, as it would be an important step for us.”
Regret over lack of unity among riders
Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 champion, has agreed with Bastianini and stated that he has also stopped regularly attending meetings of the Safety Commission. According to him, the fundamental problem lies in the lack of unity among riders, as demonstrated during the Indian Grand Prix, where discrepancies over track conditions were evident in the face of unexpected rain.
“Formula 1 has progressed a lot in this aspect. In a situation like India’s, even within the group of riders, it was difficult to reach an agreement,” Quartararo commented. “So the most important thing is that we all agree, but I see this as a long way to go.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI