Massimo Rivola wants MotoGP rules reviewed after huge Barcelona crash

Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola says MotoGP should change its rules after the frightening crash involving Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez at the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona. He believes Acosta should not have been allowed to restart the race after his bike problem caused the first red flag.

The race became one of the most dramatic MotoGP events in recent years. Acosta was leading when his KTM suddenly slowed because of an electrical failure. Marquez, riding closely behind, could not avoid him and crashed heavily at high speed. The accident left Marquez with serious injuries, including a broken collarbone and a neck fracture.

After the crash, race officials stopped the event with a red flag. Acosta returned to the pits and later joined the restart on his second bike. Rivola said this rule is unfair because the rider connected to the red flag should not continue in the race, even if the problem was mechanical and not the rider’s fault.

Rivola explained that MotoGP must think more about safety instead of only creating excitement for fans. He said riders are extremely brave and risk their lives every time they race. He also warned that modern MotoGP bikes reach very high speeds before the first corner, especially at tracks like Barcelona and Mugello.

The Catalan Grand Prix became even more chaotic later in the race. Another serious crash involving Johann Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini caused a second red flag. Some riders and team members questioned whether the race should have restarted again after two dangerous incidents.

Acosta himself later said he did not fully agree with the decision to restart the race after the second red flag. He said the health of riders should always come before the show.

Many MotoGP fans also debated the rules online. Some people felt Acosta followed the rules correctly and deserved to restart, while others agreed with Rivola that the regulations need updating. Several fans pointed out that the current rules can create confusing situations after crashes and red flags.

Despite the drama, the race finally finished with Fabio Di Giannantonio taking victory for the VR46 team. However, the result was overshadowed by concern for the injured riders and new questions about MotoGP safety.