Aprilia rider Lorenzo Savadori has been penalized for crashing under yellow flags during the MotoGP German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, but the timing of his penalty remains uncertain. His Lorenzo Savadori MotoGP penalty will likely be postponed due to the impending return of Jorge Martin, the factory team‘s world champion, next weekend at the Czech Grand Prix.
Details of Savadori’s penalty and race incidents at Sachsenring
Sunday’s 30-lap race at the Sachsenring saw a high dropout rate, with only 10 of 18 starters finishing the grand prix. Savadori crashed at the start but managed to rejoin the race, poised to secure a point amid the attrition before crashing again at Turn 1 late in the race. Despite escaping injury, he was summoned by the stewards for breaching the yellow flag rules, which were displayed following a collision between Ai Ogura and Joan Mir at the same corner just moments earlier.
The race officials issued Savadori a double long lap penalty, to be served at his next race appearance. However, when that will occur is uncertain, as Savadori has mostly been filling in for the injured Jorge Martin, who is expected back next weekend.
Impact of Jorge Martin’s return and Aprilia’s wildcard rules
Throughout the current season, Savadori has acted as a test rider and substitute for Jorge Martin on Aprilia’s Noale factory team. With Martin’s comeback scheduled for the Czech Grand Prix at Brno, Savadori’s role as a replacement will conclude. Since Aprilia is classified as a C-ranked concession manufacturer, Savadori is allowed up to six wildcard starts per season. His appearances so far have counted towards this quota.
Should Aprilia earn enough points by the summer break to upgrade to concession rank B, the team’s wildcard allowance would reduce to three per season. This development places uncertainty on when Savadori will next race, especially with Martin back in action. Aprilia is likely to deploy Savadori as a wildcard at the Misano home event in mid-September to assist with preparations for the post-race test of the RS-GP.
Regulatory nuances influencing the timing of Savadori’s penalty
Recent changes in the MotoGP regulations prevent riders who miss races due to injury from serving penalties during their absence. This adjustment means that Savadori’s double long lap penalty will remain pending until he returns to competition. A similar scenario occurred with Miguel Oliveira, who received a penalty for an incident at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix but served it in the first race of the 2024 season after missing the final round due to injury.
The delay in Savadori’s penalty highlights ongoing complexities in MotoGP’s disciplinary system when riders miss events for medical reasons or team strategy changes. The stewards’ firm stance on racing behavior under yellow flags upholds safety standards, yet the enforcement timeline can be affected by external factors like rider availability and team dynamics.
As the season progresses and Jorge Martin resumes his position, the Aprilia team will need to balance penalty enforcement with strategic wildcard race entries. For Lorenzo Savadori, the penalty remains an unresolved issue, hanging over his next participation in the championship.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is MotoGP not so popular?
A. Unfortunately, entertainment attracts more interest than sports, and MotoGP wants to profit from this trend. However, the current MotoGP lacks personalities to create engaging drama.
Q. Why isn’t MotoGP popular?
A. Motorcycling isn’t as popular as football. Most people, about 90%, don’t feel a connection to it. Liberty Media might spend a lot on promotion, but it won’t achieve mainstream popularity. Our society has plenty of entertainment choices, so people aren’t actively searching for new options.
Q. Which is the fastest? MotoGP is faster. To give you an example. At the 2023 Misano MotoGP, the fastest lap time was 1:31.791 by Francesco Bagnaia with a top speed of 303.3 Km/h (188.46 mph) by Dani Pedrosa.
A. Are MotoGP motorcycles quicker than Superbikes?
MotoGP bikes generally have higher speeds compared to Superbikes. MotoGP machines are designed with advanced technology and focus on performance, allowing them to achieve faster speeds. Superbikes, on the other hand, are typically production-based models modified for racing, which usually makes them slower than MotoGP bikes.
Q. Has anyone won F1 and MotoGP?
A. John Surtees is famous for being the only person to win World Championships in both motorcycle racing and Formula 1 car racing. He showed exceptional skill and courage in both sports.
