'Mad man': MotoGP rider leaps off bike in 200km/h 'explosion'
Motorsport fans have been left stunned by another terrifying MotoGP incident that saw Maverick Vinales lucky to escape serious injury.
The horror incident came at turn one of the Styrian Grand Prix, forcing the race to be restarted after a red flag.
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Vinales was flying towards the first corner when he realised his brakes weren't working properly, so the Spaniard was forced into a drastic course of action.
Despite travelling at a speed of around 200km/h, Vinales leapt off his bike as it hurtled through the gravel and into the air wall, before bursting into flames.
¿Alguna vez se quedaron sin frenos a 200 kilómetros por hora? Bueno, a Maverick Viñales le pasó hoy y saltó de la moto que después se prendió fuego. pic.twitter.com/PmckRGs2l7
— Sergio (@SergioEGomez) August 23, 2020
Incredibly, the Spaniard walked away without serious injuries and the race was restarted with 12 laps remaining.
Vinales explained after the incident that his "brake exploded" suddenly, on his approach to turn one.
Viewers were left stunned by the terrifying incident.
Maverick Vinales is a mad man, he jumped off his bike at 200kmh after his brakes caught fire 🙆🏾♂️. #MotoGP #StyrianGP
pic.twitter.com/9hgxvKFmtN— jk (@AmJose_) August 23, 2020
That Vinales crash. Wow. Can’t imagine having to jump off a bike at that speed due to having no brakes #MotoGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) August 23, 2020
Imagine how quick your reactions have to be to process the fact your brakes don’t work and then have the balls to just jump off
— Lucas (@LucasGeorge0) August 23, 2020
Red flag. Brakes didn't work on Viñales bike? Terrifying.
Red flag because the air fence was broken, because Viñales bike caught fire— David Emmett (@motomatters) August 23, 2020
That Vinales crash is just terrifying. Imagine going that fast, pressing the brakes and nothing happens. To even have the sense to think to jump in that situation in mind blowing. #MotoGP
— Michael Winfield (@MSWinF1eld) August 23, 2020
Vinales was also caught up in the horror incident involving Valentino Rossi in last week's MotoGP.
Miguel Oliveira became the first Portuguese rider to claim a MotoGP victory after the scary scenes, edging Pramac Ducati's Jack Miller and pole-sitter Pol Espargaro of KTM to seal a first-ever premier class victory for the KTM Tech3 team.
Miller and Espargaro produced a string of blistering laps to take control of the race.
Oliveira wins after scary drama
In an intense final lap, Miller forced Espargaro wide on the final corner, only for Oliveira to come from third spot to claim victory in the 900th premier class race.
"I'm very emotional right now," the 25-year-old said.
"I'm thankful to all the people who believed in me, including my family, the team and the sponsors.
"It's history today for me and my country. I couldn't be happier to have done it here at the home of (of my team) at the Red Bull Circuit."
Mir finished fourth, ahead of last weekend's winner Andrea Dovizioso, who slipped out of podium contention after running his Ducati wide in the closing stages of the race.
Petronas Yamaha's Fabio Quartaro struggled for pace for a second consecutive race in Austria as he finished 13th, retaining a slender three-point lead over Dovizioso in the championship standings.
The opening five rounds of MotoGP season have produced four different winners, with Quartaro winning the first two races in Jerez.
The Championship will head to Italy for a double-header at the Misano World Circuit, with the first race scheduled for September 13.
with agencies
