Leather apparel maker Dainese has initiated an investigation following the unexpected opening of Franco Morbidelli’s race suit during the sprint race at the MotoGP German Grand Prix. The incident occurred on the third lap of a 15-lap sprint at the wet Sachsenring circuit, where the VR46 rider suffered a crash at the Turn 8 left-hander.
The crash was severe enough that Morbidelli’s leather suit split open, forcing him to seek hospital examination for his elbow. Although no serious injury was detected, the pain prevented him from competing in the main race on Sunday.
Details Surrounding Morbidelli’s Crash and Suit Malfunction
Speaking in an interview with Italian outlet GPOne, Pietro Mastrapasqua of Dainese explained that this type of suit failure is unprecedented. Initial assessments have revealed no obvious defects in the suit’s materials or construction, prompting a thorough review to uncover the cause of this anomaly.
We’ll bring the suit to the company to analyse it, since it’s an anomalous thing that has never happened before,
Mastrapasqua stated.
We’ll have to analyse the data to understand the force of impact, since the suit was subjected to very significant movement.
—Pietro Mastrapasqua, Dainese
He emphasized the increasing intensity of accidents in recent seasons, noting,
We’ll certainly have to work for the future, since these accidents are becoming more and more brutal.
The company is examining the suit’s materials carefully, as both Dainese and the International Race Teams’ Association (IRTA) found no abnormalities during initial checks.
Unexpected Failure Despite Advanced Safety Measures
Mastrapasqua highlighted that the race suit includes highly tested materials and features such as self-locking zippers designed to prevent accidental openings. Additionally, a mandated retention system is in place to keep the suit secure during races.
He reflected on the puzzling nature of the incident:
Something definitely happened, even if the suit passed all the previous tests. Our materials are super tested with self-locking zippers. It’s all very strange.
Implications for Rider Safety and Future Precautions
The investigation’s results are expected to have an important impact on the development of race suits, especially as crashes become increasingly harsh in the MotoGP paddock. Understanding how such a failure could occur despite rigorous testing may lead to enhanced materials or design changes in the future to better protect riders like Franco Morbidelli.
As the inquiry advances, attention will remain focused on the technical data and material analysis to explain this exceptional malfunction and prevent similar occurrences going forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Franco Morbidelli’s father?
A. In January 2013, Morbidelli’s dad took his own life.
