A frightening incident unfolded during the opening Moto2 practice for the Thai Grand Prix when a high-speed pit lane crash led to a red-flag stoppage. Italian rider Tony Arbolino and Dutchman Zonta van den Goorbergh were involved in the crash, sending shockwaves through the pit and stirring reactions from both fans and racers alike.
Arbolino, riding for the Marc VDS team, had previously fallen at Turn 11, one of the track’s faster corners. Determined to get back on his bike, he raised his arm in a call for help from nearby marshals to restart. But just as assistance arrived, van den Goorbergh collided with the back of Arbolino’s stationary motorcycle.
Here is the video:
Penalties from the Stewards for the incident involving Arbolino and van den Goorbergh 👇
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 25, 2024
Rider #84 van den Goorbergh has been given a pit lane start for his next Grand Prix race due to riding in an irresponsible manner and causing a crash
Rider #14 Arbolino has been given a… https://t.co/58npfLzcMv
The impact was severe enough to cause Arbolino to drop his bike and collapse by the side of the track, clearly in distress. Marshals quickly assisted him, and he was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.
The nearest marshal to the scene narrowly avoided harm, managing to escape the incident unscathed. However, the incident immediately drew the attention of FIM Stewards, who launched an investigation but have not yet issued any formal ruling.
Ai Ogura adds to the drama with a violation!
Following the collision, van den Goorbergh expressed visible frustration, gesturing at track personnel as if indicating that he had not been warned about Arbolino’s presence ahead. His reaction sparked further questions about track communication and whether proper caution had been observed under the yellow flag.
According to FIM rules, riders are expected to “slow down and proceed with caution” when a yellow flag is deployed, raising speculation that van den Goorbergh might face disciplinary action for insufficient caution. As the incident played out on TV screens, Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo, a close friend of Arbolino, was seen reacting with his head in his hands, seemingly horrified by the crash.
Meanwhile, at the close of the session, Moto2 title leader Ai Ogura found himself under investigation for exiting the pit lane under red flag conditions, adding yet another layer of controversy to an already eventful practice.