Cycle News Staff | June 30, 2012
San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista will start next Sunday’s German Grand Prix at the back of the grid – no matter how he qualifies. That’s the penalty Race Direction has imposed on the Spaniard after he “rode in an irresponsible manner, causing danger to rider Jorge Lorenzo” in today’s Dutch Grand Prix at the Circuit van Drenthe.
Bautista came from the third row of the grid, went into turn one too hot and lost the front, taking Lorenzo down with him and costing the Spaniard any chance of earning championship points. Lorenzo, who went into the race with a 25-point lead over Casey Stoner, is now tied with the Australian.
An appeal was lodged by the San Carlo Honda Gresini team.
The FIM Stewards, however, confirmed the decision of the Race Direction and the decision of FIM Stewards is final, according to the FIM.
