Aprilia rider Espargaro had a run-in with two totally different riders throughout final Sunday’s race at Le Mans as he tumbled from working third within the opening phases to a disappointing ninth on the end.
On lap seven, Enea Bastianini threw his Ducati up the within of Espargaro at Turns 9/10 whereas chasing him for sixth, with the Spaniard having to take the escape street earlier than rejoining the monitor in eighth.
Then on the final lap, Espargaro got here to blows with Pramac rider Franco Morbidelli on the closing flip, costing Espargaro a spot not solely to Morbidelli but in addition KTM’s Brad Binder.
No penalties have been handed out within the two clashes, however Bastianini did have to finish a protracted lap for slicing the chicane whereas overtaking the Spaniard.
Talking after the race, Espargaro was puzzled as to why stewards didn’t take the 2 incidents extra significantly.
“The tempo was adequate to complete within the high 5 however Enea hit me at very, very excessive velocity. Fortunately it was the run-off space,” he stated.
“I do not perceive why he did not get the penalty for the motion after which I misplaced numerous time behind Diggia [Fabio Di Giannantonio], behind [Fabio] Quartararo. I overtook them a few occasions however they overtook me once more.
Picture by: Marc Fleury
“Then on the final chicane Franco hit me very exhausting and even Binder overtook me. Then he apologised after the chequered flag but in addition no penalty. Nothing I may do, actually. It was a really unusual race.”
Espargaro later clarified that there was no contact between him and Bastianini, however that he needed to take avoiding motion or threat crashing into his Ducati rival.
The 34-year-old feels the stewards solely take into consideration the influence of an incident, slightly than the incident itself, whereas deciding whether or not a rider ought to be penalised or not.
“[With] Enea I needed to decide up the bike, it was very fast. However Franco additionally, If I did not decide up the bike I’d additionally crash.
“So the sensation is that they simply put a penalty in the event you crash. However you must decide and penalise the motion, not the result, not the end result.
“If I maintain the road we each had a giant fly, we have been very quick and I noticed the replay, he [Bastianini] was far when he attacked me. I did not actually perceive.
“I misplaced my race. I wasn’t that unhealthy at that stage of the race. Not likely to struggle for the victory, for the rostrum, however I used to be good. However I misplaced six seconds there.”
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
When requested if he deliberate on chatting with the race management and explaining his perspective, Espargaro stated that it will be to no avail.
“Nothing will change, so, no,” he stated. “I am relaxed, I do not care.
“They noticed the photographs, they did not act. They are saying, ‘I would really like that you simply come and clarify’. We strive. However nothing adjustments, I do not thoughts to maintain going.”
Espargaro’s feedback observe some sturdy criticism towards chief FIM steward Freddie Spencer from LCR rider Johann Zarco, paradoxically for a collision involving Espargaro in Spain, though the Frenchman later conceded that his outburst was “unprofessional.”
Morbidelli has earlier historical past with Espargaro, with the latter seen slapping the helmet of the then-Yamaha rider after the 2 got here collectively in apply for final yr’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Requested to elucidate his aspect of the story in France, the Italian stated: “I simply tried an overtake, an overtaking maneovure within the final nook and he did not look very blissful about it. However I am used to his behaviour now.
“We did not even contact.”
When it was put to him that Espargaro claimed the 2 would have collided if hadn’t taken avoiding motion, Morbidelli echoed a cheeky remark from System 1 champion Max Verstappen: “If my mom had balls, she could be my father.”