Leading MotoGP riders have offered their view on Cal Crutchlow's Argentina jump start, hailing his punishment as harsh, but adamant there should not be a rule change.
Crutchlow was hit with a ride-through penalty having been deemed to have jumped the start of the Argentine Grand Prix, which lost him 35 seconds and left him 13th at the chequered flag.
The LCR rider launched fierce criticism of race Steward Freddie Spencer after denying he moved before the lights – though a clip of the start shows he edge slightly forward with his foot.
Speaking ahead of the this weekend's Americas Grand Prix, Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso says it is “clear” Crutchlow did not gain anything off the line, and believes talks will be held in the safety commission on Friday to find a way better way to “manage this situation”.
“It's difficult. It will be important to talk about that,” Dovizioso said when asked if Crutchlow's punishment was just.
“But the rules is clear, I think Cal didn't gain anything from what we did. But he move a little bit when the race started, so I think we can think about it, we can speak about that.
“We have to try to understand if we can find another way to manage this situation. It was clear Cal didn't gain anything from it, and he didn't do that on purpose
“But the rules say if you move you've made a mistake. So I think it would be very hard to accept that if I was Cal.
“I can understand he is angry. But for sure we have to speak in the safety commission, because if you have to interpret every start is difficult, that's why they have this rule.
“But it's bad to lose a race like this, really bad, especially when your pace is good.”
Crutchlow's Honda stablemate Marc Marquez mirrored Dovizioso's thoughts, and says the current rule ensures there are no “polemics”
“I don't think Cal gained anything, but the rules say if you move the bike – even on the opposite way – you will be penalised,” the world championship leader added.
“It's the best way to have a solid rule, because if not 'yeah, maybe he gained something, maybe he gained nothing'.
“For me it's hard to have a ride through like this and lose a race, but it's the best way to have one rule and not have the polemics later.”
Yamaha's Valentino Rossi fell in line with Dovizioso and Marquez's views, while suggesting the new 'long-lap' could be used to punish incidents of a rider jumping the start and not gaining from it.
