[imagesource: MotoGP]

Last time this week, South African MotoGP fans were celebrating Brad Binder’s historic victory at the Czech Grand Prix, having fought his way back from a starting position of seventh on the grid.

This time around, you get the feeling that those who took part in yesterday’s Austrian Grand Prix are just happy to be alive, following a crash that could have ended so much worse for a number of riders.

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi called his near-miss “terrifying”, reports the Independent:

Rossi and Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales were rounding Turn Three when they narrowly avoided being hit by the bikes of Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli, who collided at close to 200mph as they approached the heavy braking zone.

Neither Yamaha man could see what was coming as the incident happened more than 100 yards before the apex of the corner where they were located, and miraculously the cartwheeling bikes missed Rossi and Vinales, with one somehow slicing between them through a gap of barely a bike-length, while the other bounced up and over the nine-time world champion.

That’s the image you see above, with Morbidelli’s bike careening between the two riders akin to the threading a needle.

Rossi went on to say that “everyone has to pray to whoever they pray to today… F***. It was very dangerous and I was very, very scared.”

Here’s footage of the crash, taken from various angles:

One of the most terrifying #MotoGP crashes we’ve EVER seen!!! 😱

Watch the Turn 3 accident from all angles! 💥#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/L2GLToviFi

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 17, 2020

A few additional angles below:

Thankfully, after being taken to the medical centre for checks, Morbidelli’s scans revealed no serious injuries, and Zarco also emerged largely unscathed.

Brad Binder finished in fourth, with Andrea Dovizioso taking the win.

Over in MotoGP2, there was also some extreme crash action. How about this for impact?

A crash for @eneabastianini triggered chaos in #Moto2! 😱

Thankfully, @Hafizh_pescao55 avoided serious injury after striking the bike! 💥#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/X7Aihnr7Wu

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 16, 2020

Not a sport for the faint of heart.

[source:independent]