Simoncelli Will Get No Further Penalty for Le Mans Incident

As we previously informed, the MotoGP Race Direction has had a talk with Honda’s Marco Simoncelli over the controversial accident in which Dani Pedrosa emerged with a fractured collarbone. Following the incident at the French MotoGP in Le Mans, Marco Simoncelli was penalised with a ride through penalty.

The Race Direction composed of Paul Butler, Race Director and IRTA representative, Claude Danis, FIM representative, Javier Alonso, Dorna representative, and Franco Uncini, IRTA Riders Safety today met with San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli. Also present was San Carlo Honda Gresini Team Principal Fausto Gresini.

The Race Direction informed Simoncelli that they wished to ensure that he was aware of his mistake and to avoid any repetition in the future. Simoncelli responded that in the interval after the French Grand Prix he had had time for reflection and regretted the statements he had made in the heat of the moment immediately after the Grand Prix. He also recognized that he had made an error of judgment and stated that in future he would try to evaluate situations better and be a little more cautious.

The 24-year-old can thus breathe a sigh of relief and has blossomed in his sophomore season. He’s been at or near the front in every race and led in Jerez before falling on a wet/dry track. In qualifying, he’s been no worse than fifth. Also, in almost every race this season he’s been a serious podium threat, though he is yet to fulfill that.

“In any case I just want to put the controversy behind me and get out there on my bike and start working towards a race that I am sure the team and I have the potential to do well in,” Simoncelli recently stated.