Massive accident at the Portuguese Moto2 GP: red flag and eight riders out of competition

The Portuguese GP corresponding to the fifth date of the Moto 2 world tournament was the scene of a shocking episode when on lap nine there was a massive accident among a dozen riders, as a result of the weather conditions present on the Algarve International Circuit.

The race began with the 30 runners on the grid ready to take the stage on a track covered with dark and menacing clouds. However, conditions seemed more favorable than those presented on Friday and Saturday during free trials and qualifying.

But everything was going to change on the ninth turn when the first group took turn 2 of the circuit. The platoon led by the Spaniard Aron Canet went off the track one by one causing a massive accident due to the humidity and instability of the asphalt.

The images showed the moment when the riders started to fall after taking the second corner. The official broadcast captured the episode from the personal camera of the Japanese Ai Ogura, who had been fighting to climb positions from third place in the standings.

However, his chances of taking the podium were relegated, along with those of the leader at the time, Aron Canet, and his guard Cameron Beaubier, who were also protagonists of the accident.

The red flag was quickly present on the circuit and there were moments of tension when we saw the riders fall one by one, some getting kicked off their bikes and trying to avoid the colleagues who were heading towards them. Even one motorcycle ended up on fire when it hit fully with another one that was already on the gravel.

Although 11 were involved in the accident, it ended up being eight of the 30 riders who started the GP who could not continue as they failed to reach the pits in time to be part of the resumption.

Aron Canet, Cameron Beaubier, Ai Ogura, Augusto Fernández, Tony Arbolino, Somkiat Chantra, Sam Lowes, Albert Arenas, Pedro Acosta, Zonta van den Goorbergh and Simone Corsi were the victims of bad weather conditions.

In the resumption, made up of 18 drivers, Jake Dixon was the beneficiary since with the absences of the first riders he was the leader of the last squad with seven laps left to go. However, at the start of the second start he also suffered a fall that left him out of the race.

Finally, the American Joe Roberts crossed the finish line and took first place in the rugged Portuguese GP. “I can't believe what happened. I didn't want to make any mistakes in the relaunch, I didn't want to spoil it. Let's hope that this will be the first of many victories,” he said after the consecration. The podium was completed by Celesitno Pietti and Jorge Navarro.

The accident occurred during the press conference of the first three riders of the MotoGP race, which had ended an hour earlier. Fabio Quartararo, Johann Zarco and Aleix Espargaró, witnesses of the accident, expressed their astonishment at the accident.

KEEP READING