The race day at the Mugello circuit was overshadowed on Sunday by the horror news of the death of Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier. The 19-year-old Swiss was hit by another bike after falling from his own at Mugello in Italy.
This emotional moment meant that some of the MotoGP riders had trouble keeping their heads, focusing and concentrating on the race.
One could deal with this more easily than the other, the opinions about whether or not to start the race were therefore very divided.
However, Dorna Sports decided that the races should continue as usual, despite the fact that a large part of the MotoGP riders, but also almost half of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup field, indicated that they would prefer not to ride anymore.
When Dorna also decided to observe a minute’s silence just before the MotoGP race, during which the riders from the premier class were also asked to line up at the front of the grid where Dupasquier’s Moto3 machine was set up together with his PrustelGP crew stood.
“It was very difficult to stay focused. To be honest, I don’t know how I managed to keep up this pace, because every lap you ride you think of Jason Dupasquier.” Monster Energy Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo said after the race.
Dupasquier crashed out of turn 9 (Arrabiata 2). His machine remained on the track after which Ayumu Sasaki and Jermy Alcoba had nowhere to go and both also fell down.
“After what happened to Jason on Saturday, you have to ask yourself why we were racing on Sunday. At times like this, everything loses its meaning.” Petronas Yamaha SRT Valentino Rossi said.
“But it also makes no sense to cancel the race. Whatever we did on Sunday, nothing can no longer undo what happened on Saturday.” Rossi added.
