MotoGP rider launches sweary outburst over Brazil start decision

Enea Bastianini branded the decision not to delay the start of Sunday’s shortened Brazilian MotoGP a “big mistake”, after being left unable to change tyres.

Bastianini felt he was unfairly penalised by the last-minute announcement to modify the race distance, from 31 to 23 laps, due to ‘track degradation’.

KTM colleagues Pedro Acosta and Maverick Vinales were among those who reacted to the news by switching from the medium to soft rear tyre.

But when the message arrived to Bastianini, starting last on the grid, the Tech3 rider said there was no time for him to change tyres.

“It has been bullshit. Because in a world championship it is a big mistake,” Bastianini said.

“The message to my team arrived at the end [of the grid], during the last minute and the time to change the tyre for us was nothing.

“The team said to me ‘we don’t have time’ but the others in front changed.

“The good choice was to [delay the start for] five minutes to be clear on the situation for everyone.

“I saw many instances during the weekend like this.”

Fellow RC16 rider Brad Binder, starting one place ahead of Bastianini, was in the same situation.

"It would have been nice to know two minutes before, because we could have changed the tyre at least," said Binder.

"Maybe the guys at the front of the grid had their information a bit earlier. As we were on the last row, we were the last to hear it, and there was no time to change."

Once he left the grid, Bastianini soon realised why the race distance had been slashed.

“During the warm-up lap I received many stones on the face and the body,” he said.

“I thought I would not finish the race because entering Turn 12 on the warm-up lap a stone hit my shoulder. It was very painful at the start.

“It’s happened also [in other tracks] in the past when the tarmac was new. Like I said the previous day, the track does not seem ready to make the GP but with some difficultly we did it.”

Bastianini was rewarded for his perseverance with 15th place and the final MotoGP World Championship point.

“The middle sectors, two and three, are slow but with a lot of acceleration, where we suffered,” Bastianini explained.

“We missed something. That is clear. Checking also the other KTM riders.

“Pedro is fast, but today my pace was close to him, but starting from behind is very difficult and you cannot fight for the good position.”

Acosta, who held the title lead coming into Brazil, slipped to third in the standings after 9-7 race finishes at Goiania.

Binder crashed out while Vinales finished 18th and last.