Silverstone crashes: the word from the boxes on Pedrosa and De Puniet

A crash at the MotoGP is like a crash or injury in any sport – first there’s a hush as the crowd takes in what happens and waits to see if the rider’s okay, and then there’s general comment as the scenes get replayed on the big screen.

That was exactly what happened today at the Silverstone MotoGP with Dani Pedrosa’s fall and his bike crasing right on its nose.
And then comments from the staff in the boxes (generally tinged with relief that it wasn’t their rider) which today included:“That looked really painful” on Pedrosa’s crash, followed by “Was it his knee or his leg?”“That was so obviously going to happen” on Randy De Puniet’s crash.

It must be remarked that both these riders have got themselves front row starting positions on the grid – no pain no gain, right…? We’ll wait and see how the chilly weather affects tomorrow’s race but the couple of crashes might give the riders something to think about.
As one commentator said: “On the limit and over the limit”, to which De Puniet himself adds:“I am really enjoying myself on this track and thought it was possible to take the pole position today when I stripped half a second off Lorenzo’s top time but in the last lap he took pole back and I also experienced a fall right.

I have cut my right thumb in the crash but it was not necessary to stitch it up.
For sure this crash was helpful to me as I understood I must remain calm during the race!”