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MotoGP, LATEST - A return to the chicane used in 2016

The decision to take the step back has been taken by the Safety Commission with the riders at Barcelona

MotoGP: LATEST - A return to the chicane used in 2016

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As foreseen by the riders, in the Safety Commission they were able to voice their opinions about the new chicane, too dangerous in the case of a crash. Race Direction promised that, after Friday's practice, a decision would be made as to which layout to use.

The decision has been made and the solution used last year, on Friday and Saturday, will be used (different from the Formula 1 layout). In the photo you can see the track modification made last year after Luis Salom's fatal accident, with a different chicane with its entry moved a few metres back.

Initially they had decided against this solution, due to the fact the wall is took close to the exit of the second turn, but in practice the new layout proved to be even more dangerous.

With this modification, the track will differ from that used today, longer too, so entry to Q2 will be based solely on the results of FP3.

Loris Capirossi, a Race Direction member, explained: “In the Safety Commission the riders complained a little about the new layout, they said the work wasn’t done in the right way and there were a lot of bumps – that’s why the riders decided to go back to the layout from last year. That’s why we’re here, to make sure the track used tomorrow is the safest we can. We saw during practice today a lot of crashes too where the bike remained on the track and at the exit of the corner, and that’s very dangerous. We have experience from last year of the old chicane and we didn’t have any crashes like we did today, that’s why the riders requested it. In terms of crashes, the old one is better.”

Translated by Heather Watson
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