MotoGP and the Red Bull Ring have elected to extend the air barrier at Turn 3 ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix in response to last weekend’s terrifying crash.
Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli collided on the run down to the slow Turn 3 right-hander, the duo’s MotoGP machines flying across the grass and subsequently taking off on the infield parallel to the track.
The out-of-control premier class prototypes then careered across the tarmac at Turn 3, narrowly missing Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales who were navigating their way through the bend.
Thankfully all four riders involved in the crash were able to walk away, although talks soon began regarding the safety of the Austrian venue ahead of the second event at the track this weekend.
Jack Miller said following the race that the kinked section on approach to Turn 3 “is always discussed” by the riders in the pre-race briefings.
“That section (approach to Turn 3) is always discussed, they’ve widened the walls but obviously it’s still not enough,” said the Pramac racer.
“Anytime you’ve got two aggressive riders like Johan (Zarco) and Franco (Morbidelli) who don’t mind a bit of argy bargy, I’ve not yet seen exactly what happened but it’s almost one line there, all you’ve got to do is get a bit of crosswind from another bike and your bike will already start shaking.
The extended Turn 3 air barrier will now stretch across the entire width of the infield run-off, theoretically preventing any bikes from reaching Turn 3 should any similar incident take place this weekend.
Johann Zarco meanwhile could miss the Styrian GP event after fracturing his scaphoid as a result of the crash, the Frenchman confirmed as having to miss Friday practice due to not yet reached the mandatory 48 hour period following an operation before being allowed to undergo a medical examination.
His Avintia outfit is not thought to have prepared a replacement should the Frenchman be declared unfit to compete in the Styrian GP, although Cal Crutchlow faced no such problems as he was able to take part in the Andalucian GP just a week after fracturing his own scaphoid in the Spanish GP at Jerez.
