Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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IN THE WIND P26 MOTOGP: GRASS OR NO GRASS T he legacy of the Grand Prix of Aragon was the main talking point at the riders' Safety Commission meeting on Friday in Japan, with big-name crashes triggering the top two items on the agenda. The spec- tacular crashes and narrow escapes for Valentino Rossi and Andrea Iannone were both caused after the riders ran onto wet artificial grass lining the outside curbs. The ersatz greenery holds water, and becomes lethally slippery – although Rossi opined: "Artificial grass has the same result as real grass." Dorna director Javier Alonso told the official web- site (MotoGP.com): "We have decided that gradually we are going to... remove artificial grass from most of the places." It had been installed originally for bikes rather than cars at the request of the Safety Commission, he re- vealed. "Now we realize that when the track is dry and the artificial grass still wet, it is really, really dan- gerous." Many riders approved of the material, because it means that a rider who runs off faces a penalty not imposed by paved run-off. "The track has to end somewhere," said Nicky Hayden. Speaking before the meeting, Jorge Lorenzo sug- gested a different solution: "Maybe more height on the outside of the curb, so if you go over it you have to lose some time." The other crashes were crucial for the results: leaders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa were caught out when they gambled on sticking with their slick tires on an increasingly wet circuit – occasion- ing a revival of complaints from some riders about the flag-to-flag regulations, allowing optional bike changes. The mistakes came from the riders, with Marquez admitting, "When I look at the TV, I was really, really stupid. I thought I could win, but when the tires got cool the grip was disastrous." Rossi said: "For me it has some risks. You have to decide from the bike, and you can make a mistake. Slicks are very dangerous in the wet. But it solves a problem for TV, and I think it is the best." But Lorenzo again was a dissenter, suggesting that bike changes should be compulsory, and made under control of a safety car - a solution rejected many years ago, when officials first addressed the problem of avoiding missing out on TV schedule slots because of the weather. Dorna's Alonso said: "We are sure that the flag- to-flag system of changing bikes is the best we can have, but it may be that we consider having an op- tion where if it gets too wet we oblige everybody to change bikes." Rossi had a hangover from his Aragon crash – not because "I was asleep in the run-off for a short time" after banging his head. It was his right index finger, already injured at Brno, and now possibly with some fractures as well. He made light of it, and rode the first day without painkillers, but it was tightly strapped up. "I was really worried before, but each day it is com- ing better," Rossi said. "The adrenalin helps a lot. I have some pain, but I have feeling, and I have power." Apart from the scaphoid bone in the wrist, finger in- juries are one of the worst problems a rider can face, especially to the right hand. The situation was exacer- bated at Motegi because the heavy braking. Michael Scott PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Valentino Rossi crashed on wet artificial grass in Aragon… that soon may be removed.