"Nearly Killed Me": Valentino Rossi's Hair-Raising Experience Caught On Camera
Valentino Rossi had a narrow escape after a collision between two other riders sent a stray bike cartwheeling across the track.
Highlights
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Valentino Ross makes miraculous escape during Austrian Grand Prix
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Rossi was nearly hit by a rival's stray bike during the MotoGP race
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Andrea Dovizioso went on to take the race win ahead of Joan Mir
MotoGp superstar Valentino Rossi narrowly avoided what could have been a disastrous accident during the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Italian legend was nearly hit by a rival's stray bike that had cartwheeled across track following a collision between Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco. Yamaha rider Morbidelli and the Ducati's Zarco had collided just seconds before the riders made their way through turn four on the eighth lap at Spielberg during the MotoGP race. Rossi escaped serious injury or worse, when the bike of the unseated Morbidelli flew past him at 300kmh and missed him by the narrowest of margins.
Zarco's Ducati also came desperately close to hitting Rossi as well as his Yamaha factory teammate Maverick Vinales who was just ahead of him.
Here is the hair-raising sequence of events and Rossi's miracle escape.
One of the most terrifying #MotoGP crashes we've EVER seen!!!
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) August 17, 2020
Watch the Turn 3 accident from all angles!#AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/L2GLToviFi
The 41-year-old was visibly shaken by the incident.
An understandably shaken @ValeYellow46...#AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/UB0fdyx0TG
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) August 16, 2020
"Morbidelli's bike nearly killed me," said Rossi.
"Even Zarco's Ducati passed a few metres over me, it was a very dangerous moment."
The race was stopped following the horror crash. Despite being in a near-death situation, Rossi manage to compose himself and finish fifth after the race was restarted.
"I was so scared. I am shaken, resuming the race was tough. I took the biggest risk of my career," Rossi told Sky Italia.
"I saw a shadow, I thought it was the helicopter from above, sometimes it happens during the race that the helicopter passes over and casts a shadow. Instead, two 'bullets' arrived.
"The saint of motorcyclists today did a really great job, it was a very dangerous thing."
Morbidelli, who could be Rossi's teammate next season at the Yamaha satellite team, lashed out at Zarco after the incident.
"Zarco is almost a murderer," Morbidelli told Sky Sport Italia.
"Braking like this at 300 km/h means having little love for yourself or for those you are racing against.
"I hope this major incident makes Zarco think. It was really dangerous for me, him, for Rossi and Vinales who were up front and saw a bike coming at them at 280 per hour."
Through all the drama, one man remain unfazed.
Andrea Dovizioso of the Ducati took the race win, maintaining his team's 100 per cent record at the Red Bull Ring.
Suzuki rider Joan Mir finished second behind Dovizioso while Pramac Racing's Jack Miller completed the podium.
Rossi's teammate Maverick Vinales did well to finish 10th after encountering problems.
Fabio Quartararo of the Petronas Yamaha SRT continues to lead the championship standings with 67 points despite coming in at eighth place.
However, thanks to his victory, Dovizioso is now just 11 points behind the Frenchman while Vinales is third with 48 points.
Rossi, who has just one podium finish so far this season, is currently fifth with 38 points.
(With AFP inputs)