Alex Rins crashes at the MotoGP at Mugello after a controversial scene with Takaaki Nakagami and reacts angrily to the decision of the race stewards
Suzuki suffered their second consecutive complete retirement at the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. After announcing their MotoGP retirement just before Le Mans, Alex Rins and Joan Mir failed to secure a single point
At Mugello, Rins crashed after clashing with Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami. Race control classified the incident as a racing accident. Rins could not understand this decision.
“I don’t understand his riding style,” Rins was annoyed by Nakagami’s manoeuvre and described what had happened: “Already on the previous lap I overtook him in the chicane. He stayed on his line and opened the throttle even more to cross my line. I tried a bit more throttle the lap after and was already ahead of him. “
What happened between @Rins42 and Nakagami?
Hear from the two riders on their controversial coming together at the ItalianGP MotoGP https://t.co/hNG57FblH4
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) May 29, 2022
“He kept full throttle on the outside. When we straightened up the bikes, he touched me. But he was already on the outside. I crashed,” Rins described. “I don’t understand why he rides like that. All the riders are of the same opinion about him. He is one of the most dangerous riders when it comes to overtaking. “
How Takaaki Nakagami experienced the incident
“Luckily nobody was riding behind us,” noted Rins, who slid along the kerb. Nakagami saw the incident differently. “I don’t know what to say about that. We are racing,” Nakagami searches for an appropriate reaction.
“The lap before he already tried it and I closed the door to defend my position. The lap after, he tried again but I was in front of him. At the exit of turn 11 he came to the outside. He hit me. I was in front of Rins and I couldn’t do anything. I can’t just wave him past,” the Japanese explained.
“It was a racing accident,” Nakagami is convinced. “Of course I’m sorry that he crashed and scored zero points. I’m sorry for that, but it was a racing accident.”
Alex Rins criticises Freddie Spencer and the stewards
The race stewards waived a penalty against Nakagami. Alex Rins cannot understand this. “I don’t understand the race stewards. They didn’t think I was ahead of him,” the Spaniard marvels and scolds: “The stewards are not doing their job properly.”
“I was talking to Freddie Spencer and I was wondering because he is a former rider and he has many overtaking manoeuvres behind him,” said Rins. “I was in front of Nakagami. Zarco started the same manoeuvre against Bezzecchi. It was not a problem because Bezzecchi is a good rider. When you lose the position, that’s when you lose the position. “
