Japanese MotoGP star Takaaki Nakagami has miraculously escaped serious injury after a horror first-corner crash at the Catalan Grand Prix in Spain overnight.
Nakagami’s head was violently jolted as it struck the rear wheel of Ducati rival Francesco Bagnaia after losing the front end of his Honda as he turned into the corner.
The crash downed both Bagnaia and Suzuki gun Alex Rins – who was spectacularly flung through the air. He suffered a broken wrist and is now in doubt for the next race.
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It was the second race in a row Nakagami and Rins had come together.
Bagnaia was critical of Nakagami after the race, claiming riders were scared to race against him.
“We are professional riders, and we have a lot of fears when Taka is riding,” he told the host broadcast.
“(These) mistakes cannot happen. You can’t overtake 12 riders in one braking (zone) – it was really irresponsible.
“If I wasn’t there … he was going into the gravel and his race would be finished.”
Rins also blamed Nakagami for the crash, and took aim at race stewards who deemed the crash a racing incident.
“Clearly he did a big mistake – losing the braking point, crossed the track from right to left, he locked the front and crashed. For sure it’s his fault, but also the stewards’ fault,” he said.
“The decision they take to not do nothing about this action makes no sense.”
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