MotoGP: Vito Ippolito didn't like the Misano "restart" procedure

The start of the MotoGP in Misano will remain for many a bad "stain" on the 2012 world championship, especially if it were to cost the world championship to Dani Pedrosa, who fell from -13 to -38 in a single blow. However, let's summarize the facts: during the start procedure, Karel Abraham's bike had a problem, reported by the Czech rider with a raised hand. At that moment it was decided to bring back not only the mechanics responsible for the start (basically those who remain until just before the start) but everyone, including those who put on the tyrewarmers. This is as if the second departure was postponed for many minutes.

Suddenly, however, a new restart was given with one minute's notice, and at that moment Dani Pedrosa's bike had a problem with the front wheel, which remained blocked. The Honda rider himself had defined it as "chaos"; in fact, even the number of remaining laps was changed several times, further confusing the experts. The fact is that Pedrosa's bike was then taken off the grid to solve the problem and above all the intervention was done outside the maximum time. Precisely for this reason the driver was penalized by demoting him from pole to last position! Then his comeback ended when his compatriot Barberà hit him, but it is clear without having to specify that starting from pole he would not have had this problem.

Here are the words of FIM President Vito Ippolito in this regard.

“We had already seen all sorts of things: it had even happened that the race director activated the starting lights by leaning on his elbow, but we had never seen anything like this. It had never been seen that the race was stopped a moment before the start – said Ippolito as reported by Motosprint – At that point everyone was taken by surprise and the biggest mistake had been made: the track was reopened, the procedure was reactivated and so many people were able to get closer to the bikes and the riders again. Instead only the mechanics with the starter were to be allowed in and then the new start would be given. At that point the 'one minute to go' message would have been immediately understood by everyone and there would have been no problem with the tire warmers.”