Bagnaia and Vinales agree fiery clash a “racing incident”

Despite being on the verge of throwing punches, Francesco Bagnaia and Maverick Vinales are of the common belief their tangle in France was a “racing incident”.

Vinales and Bagnaia were embroiled in a tense scrap for third in the French MotoGP at Le Mans and it reached a tipping point on Lap 5.

After the Aprilia rider got by at Turn 11, the defending world champion launched a counterattack at the following right-hander by switching back to the outside.

But the pair made side to side contact, which sent the pair into instant retirement.

As Bagnaia lay in the gravel contemplating what happened, Vinales marched up to him and the pair not only had a war of words, but also appeared to have pushed each other once the Ducati star got to his feet.

But any signs of a lingering spat were put to rest when both riders ventured back to the pits on the same scooter together.

It was a particularly costly blow for Bagnaia, with his championship lead slashed from 23 points to one as Marco Bezzecchi stormed to a special win.

However, the reigning world champion was not angry with Vinales, believing it was just an unfortunate occurrence where two riders want to the same piece of tarmac.

Bagnaia even understood the Spaniard’s aggressive initial reaction to the incident. 

“No, I’m not angry with Maverick,” Bagnaia told Autosport.

“I didn’t like the reaction (from him in the gravel) because for me, it was a bit too aggressive.

“But when you have that adrenaline it can happen.

“When you crash because you were hit by a rider, or when you crash when you hit other riders, you are more angry because you feel like you have ruined your race or you have ruined a rider’s race.

“So, I’m not angry with him. I consider this like an unlucky circumstance, a racing incident.”

Vinales also offered a similar viewpoint of the clash.

“At the end for me it’s a racing incident, nothing else than that,” Vinales told crash.net.

“I already talked (with the Stewards) and I talked also with Pecco (Bagnaia). 

“We gave our points of view and at the end we need to have respect for (other) riders.

“Pecco and myself are among the cleanest in the racing lines and there was no meaning to fight each other.”

Vinales also explained his rush of blood in the gravel trap and said adrenaline was to blame, but said both parties have “moved on”.

“Emotions, the adrenaline. Especially I was very angry because I had the potential to win the race, so I was very upset. I was very angry with him,” he recalled.

“But afterwards we move on, we shake hands. We know that this is racing and you need to have respect between the riders.”

Bagnaia and Vinales will resume their rivalry at Italy on June 9-11.

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