Quartararo calls for gravel trap safety changes after Mandalika crash

Fabio Quartararo said he was lucky to avoid injury after crashing into a gravel trap at Turn 9 during Friday's MotoGP Indonesian GP practice. The Yamaha Factory Racing rider lost control halfway through the session, slid off his bike, and was thrown into a roll when his body struck the gravel. He returned to finish seventh in Practice, securing a spot in Qualifying 2.

Quartararo was sore on his left side after the incident. He expected to wake up sore the next day. During a media briefing, he was seen holding an ice pack to his wrist. He mentioned a thumb injury and neck and shoulder pain. The crash itself was not serious. He initially landed smoothly on the asphalt before hitting the gravel trap, which pitched him into the air. Tech3 KTM rider Enea Bastianini also crashed late in the session due to the same 'step effect' but escaped unharmed.

Rider concerns about gravel trap design

Quartararo directly linked the crash layout to a past incident involving Marc Marquez. He stated that Marquez's season ended last year due to a shoulder injury sustained in the gravel at the same Mandalika corner. Quartararo argued that if the gravel were not present or better placed, Marquez would have avoided that injury. He claimed the gravel trap at Turn 9 is too high compared to the tarmac, creating a dangerous lip.

Fabio Quartararo said: "I think we need to put it at least as the same height as the tarmac, because I think it’s a bit higher." He explained that the current height causes riders to bump into the air upon impact. He concluded that organisers have to do something in this area. The Marquez brothers echoed the concern but placed responsibility on the organisers. Marc Marquez acknowledged that gravel traps are not good for rider or bike safety and increase repair costs. He argued that saving riders and bikes is the best way to save a budget.

Marc Marquez said: "Honestly speaking, I’m fighting for a championship and I didn’t check about how the gravel is or not." He and his brother Alex stated it is not the riders' job to check corner safety but the responsibility of the organisers. Criticism of Mandalika's run-off areas was heavy a year ago following Marc Marquez's grand prix crash, and the issues were not fully fixed a year later.

Bike feel and performance reflections

Despite the unsettling crash, Quartararo found positives in his machine's performance. He reflected that the bike casing felt better than the previous year. He noted the medium compound tyre warmed up faster this year. The bike still lacks grip and turning capability, but he said the track's few long straights help compensate for those weaknesses. Restarting after a crash and immediately doing two time attacks was not an ideal situation, he admitted.

Outlook and next steps

Quartararo confirmed he could return to action after the incident. He woke up the next morning feeling a bit sore but was cleared to ride. His immediate focus was secured by his Practice result. Fabio Quartararo finished seventh in Practice and secured a Q2 spot for qualifying.