Hector Barbera was returning to action after missing the last GP races due to separte injuries – a fractured tibia and fibula picked up in training and then some cracked vertebrae at Indianpolis, the Spaniard who is out of ride next season after Ducati decided to take over Pramac to field a two-rider team, did huge no no in today’s race at Misano during the first lap, when he lost his brake marker (his reflexes may have been slightly off, as he hasn’t been able to train due to the type of injuries) and ran directly into the rear tire of Dani Pedrosa.
Pedrosa had already been demoted to the back of the field after his team had to wheel out his RC213V from the starting grid after a tire warmer stuck into his front tire, blocking the wheel, at the re-start the Repsol Honda rider with his usual lightning starts was already in 12th when Barbera torpedoed into him from behind.
The Pramac Ducati rider was immediately contrite when interviewed and said, “I’m so sorry for Dani, he didn’t deserve to crash this way.
We were at the limit on the brakes and I found myself between him and De Puniet.
I didn’t have the space to stop me and I took him out, I’m sorry because I have a great relationship with Pedrosa and he is fighting for the championship.
Unfortunately, these things can happen in a race and I can only say I’m sorry to Dani and his team.
Now I’ll go and try to rest, and focusing on the next race at Argon.
” Francesco Guidotti, Pramac’s Racing Team Manager also apologized to Pedrosa, “It’s a shame about the early crash.
Héctor really did not mean it.
We are sad, in particular because the crash caught up the World Championship contender, Pedrosa.
Héctor was trying to gain places but he lost his braking reference and hit the brakes too hard, losing grip and sliding into Dani.
All the Pramac Racing Team apologize to Pedrosa and his crew.
”
