Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) collided at Turn 4 on Lap 1 of Race 1 at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, ending both of their races before they had really started. Speaking after the incident, both Redding and Bautista gave their side of the argument when discussing the incident as their rivalry in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship ignited at Portimao.

THE CONTEXT: what happened on Lap 1?

Bautista and Redding started from ninth and 15^th respectively on the Race 1 grid, both lower than they would have expected given their performances in testing at the venue and in Australia. On the opening lap, both were looking to make gains, but their races ended at the left-hander of Turn 4 when they collided. From there, they both went sliding into the gravel with their races over, and each had their side of the story.

REDDING'S TAKE: “I can’t even say I’m sorry because I didn’t do anything… going into Turn 3, I was in front of him”

The #45 spoke about the crash and described it as a “racing incident” when asked about the collision but also stated he was ahead on the exit of Turn 3 and heading into Turn 4. He said: “It was a shame, I got off to a really good start, I think I got up to P9, my plan was to try to finish top 8 or top 6. I got a good start, which was the goal, and I made those positions, then I went into Turn 4, for me everything was settled. I needed to pass Remy into Turn 5, and as I was making that plan in my head, I felt a push on the left side of the body, then the rear came around and I crashed. I looked in the gravel and Alvaro was there, and he had crashed before me. Then I wanted to go speak with him, but I couldn’t get close to him because he was always going. So, I really wasn’t sure but just before I came here, I was watching it back from the onboard from Alvaro, and going into Turn 3, I was in front of him, and I was actually in front of Gardner, but I knew he would have a better exit than me, so I stayed a bit outside. I was in the wheel of Gardner, I went into Turn 4, everything was ok, then all the sudden there was the drama. I heard he was saying I took him out which is quite strange because I didn’t feel that was in any way what happened. I wasn’t mad after the crash that I took him out or he took me out. It was a racing incident and I want to know what happened. From his onboard, the only thing I can think is that he should have seen me, because I was in front of him in Turn 3. If you’re exiting Turn 3 going to Turn 4 and you’re looking, you would see me on the left. He was behind me, so what was I to do, look right then go? We don’t have the best of relationships, but I don’t plan to take any rider out, I’m sure it’s the same for him. I can’t even say I’m sorry because I didn’t do anything, it was nothing; for me, it was really strange., I would like to see with Race Direction if there is another camera of what happened, but from his onboard I was in front of him until Turn 4. It was unfortunate for both of us.”

BAUTISTA'S POINT OF VIEW: “When I was on the line, I had an impact on my left side, and I crashed…”

Bautista gave his side of the story, saying: “Physically I’m ok, I’m not feeling any consequences. I was in the group at Turn 3. I saw some riders go wide so I took a good line at Turn 3 and on the change of direction I felt some riders on my left. I let some riders pass because they were in front of me and more inside. When I was on the line, I had an impact on my left side, and I crashed.”

MORE FROM BAUTISTA: “Scott hit me… you need to respect your factory teammate”

When Bautista spoke in his media debrief, the fighting talk ramped up again. He added: “Scott hit me. I don’t want to speak to him; I’m not the person who wants to speak with him. I just received the impact. He was inside but behind. I don’t know if he crashed and touched me, or he touched me, and we crashed. When we were in the corner, I just received an impact and crashed. When you crash and you are not guilty, and you think the other rider is guilty, then maybe you do “wooh”. He asked me “are you ok?” like “oh, we crashed”. If he is not guilty, he would have come to me doing “ohh, what you done?!” but he was like ‘ahhh, are you ok? Sorry!’. That’s all. That is the problem, the f*****g problem. As I’m an official rider, at least you need to respect your factory teammate. And don’t f**k with me all the time during all these past years. Then you have the same bike as me and even with that, you are still pushing there… and it’s not enough? And you push me out, it looks is the only way to do things. That is the problem. I’m the factory rider and he has to be very careful. With all the riders, especially with the ones from the same manufacturer, especially with the riders that are factory riders from the same manufacturer. That is the problem.”

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