"Rossi sees death before his eyes"

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Valentino Rossi and Franco Morbidelli here in the duel in Spielberg

The near-crash of superstar Valentino Rossi has startled the motorcycle world and called for consequences. Especially in Rossi's homeland, Italy, the shock was still deep on Monday. "Rossi sees death before his eyes. It was only a matter of centimeters and fractions of a second," wrote the newspaper "Corriere della Sera".

Rossi was extremely lucky on several occasions at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg: First Franco Morbidelli's Yamaha machine flew through the air centimeters in front of him, then Johann Zarco's Ducati followed and also just missed him. "Everyone should say a prayer tonight, to whoever," said nine-time world champion Rossi, who only really realized the situation at the finish.

Rossi and also many media criticized the French Zarco, who had lost control of his machine after a daring maneuver. "I spoke to him. More and more drivers brake and close the door directly in front of other drivers. We must not forget that this sport is very dangerous," said Rossi.

The "Gazzetta dello Sport" even wrote of the "most devastating accident in recent years" in MotoGP and ruled: "That there were no fatalities is due to a miracle alone." The two motorcycles had become "deadly weapons", also judged the "Corriere dello Sport": "A second later, and Rossi would have had no chance of survival."

Even before the start in the premier class, the falls had started. In Moto2, the Italian Enea Bastianini lost control of his motorcycle on a knoll on the fourth lap, Hafizh Syahrin from Malaysia couldn't avoid it, crashed into the machine and was thrown through the air.

aha / sid