Ducati duo tangle at last corner in Indianapolis

This is the moment that got home crowd favourite Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso hauled before Race Direction after the factory Ducati duo tangled at the final corner in Indianapolis.

Battling for eighth position, 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden lunged under Dovizioso’s struggling GP13 Desmosedici at the final left-hander.
The aggressive move forced both off track, allowing British rider Bradley Smith through to take a last ditch eighth.

Hayden, who finished ninth, said: “In the last corner on the last lap, we had contact, which was my fault. When the door started to close, I was already committed and didn’t want him to take out my front wheel.”

Dovizioso said: “I’m fairly pleased with how I managed my race because I was able to pass him back on the final lap, but in the last corner, he wanted to get by me at any cost, using a really aggressive manoeuvre. I didn’t expect it because I hadn’t left the door open. Nicky came beside me and we touched, and it certainly wasn’t a safe move, but we can say it was a racing incident.

We were called to Race Direction because of course it’s important to talk about these things and immediately clear them up. Honestly, I’m quite annoyed to have lost two positions, and I also wanted to keep Smith behind me. Still, there’s no sense in creating controversy in a situation like this, so for me it’s over.”

For eight pages of MotoGP news including exclusive paddock reaction to Cal Crutchlow’s Ducati move, see the August 21 issue of Motor Cycle News.