Published: 09 Aug 2024
Towing Tactics - Bagnaia Criticizes "Ridiculous" Qualifying Behaviour
After weeks of “ridiculous” towing tactics in qualifying, Francesco Bagnaia demands tougher penalties. Marc Marquez sees no need for change.
The ongoing discussions about towing tactics and slipstreaming in MotoGP qualifying have intensified once again.
Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning world champion, has become a frequent target of these strategies as other riders often latch onto his rear wheel, hoping to benefit from his slipstream and achieve faster lap times.
At Silverstone, Bagnaia lost his patience: “The stewards should focus on important things, not on things that don’t matter. What we’ve seen in the last four or five qualifying sessions is ridiculous.”
“We are the pinnacle of our sport. We are the fastest riders in the world. We are here because we can do things on our own. Our speed is should be enough on its own. I don’t understand why some riders desperately need a slipstream.”
Bagnaia finds it particularly frustrating when riders deliberately slow down on the track to wait for a faster competitor, which he considers both dangerous and unnecessary.
“It’s very dangerous because sometimes you’re pushing, and then someone is riding slowly on the racing line, cutting your line. That’s very dangerous.”
The issue has sparked debate about whether stricter penalties should be introduced. In Moto3 where towing has been a problem for several years now, riders are penalized once they exceed 135 percent of their best sector time.
Pedro Acosta, recalling his Moto3 experience, supports Bagnaia’s call for stricter penalties: “I agree with Pecco. In 2021, I had to start from the pit lane. There was no warning.”
He emphasizes that the current situation, where riders wait on the track and disrupt others, is unacceptable: “We need a rule that ensures once you start a lap, you can’t hinder others.”
Bagnaia believes a similar rule should be implemented in MotoGP, although he acknowledges not everyone agrees: “Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with that,” he sighed.
Riders like Brad Binder feel “there are enough rules already” in MotoGP. “We have so many things to worry about. I hope we don’t get a rule like that,” the South African stated.
He is supported by Marc Marquez. The Spaniard often profited from waiting for a tow in qualifying and has sparked several discussions about his behaviour during time attacks in the past months.
“I’d be happy if I were the one others want to follow because that would mean I’m the fastest,” said the six-time MotoGP champion.
“Racing was and always will be this way, as long as they don’t change the qualifying format and introduce a Superpole. But in the past, we’ve seen that a Superpole can be boring.”
