Michael Laverty: Blame goes 'slightly' on Francesco Bagnaia for crash with Maverick Vinales at French MotoGP

BT Sport experts Michael Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli believe that Maverick Vinales was not at fault for the crash with Francesco Bagnaia at the French MotoGP. Ducati's Bagnaia and Aprilia’s Vinales were competing for P3 at Le Mans but failed to finish the race after they clipped on a turn and spun out into the gravel. Ad Such was the nature of the crash that they were unable to rejoin the action, and tempers flared as they pushed and shoved each other on the sidelines before being separated by race officials.

Grand Prix FranceMarquez denied dream return as Bagnaia snatches French GP pole at the deathYESTERDAY AT 10:38 Later in the race they were seen being more cordial with one another, with an acceptance in the BT studio that while world champion Bagnaia was the instigator of the crash, it was fundamentally a racing incident. Laverty said: “A complete racing incident, really. “If you are going to apportion blame, it goes slightly on Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] because he was behind.

He had the choice not to lean in on top of Vinales. “Vinales made the move. He had a little bit of room to control the corner.

“Pecco squared it up the inside, trying to lean in. We saw Marc Marquez execute it — he squared it enough to let the other rider know. Bezzecchi claims French MotoGP victory after Marquez comeback ends in disappointment Marquez denied dream return as Bagnaia snatches French GP pole at the death “So Pecco stays on the line, you’ve got to know that Vinales is going to drift back.” Guintoli added: “I agree.

It was Pecco’s fault. A race incident, just two guys going for the same line. “But Maverick was on the line, on the inside.