Picture this: a heart-stopping moment that had MotoGP fans on the edge of their seats, where a rookie rider nearly flipped his high-powered bike into a catastrophic backflip – the most outrageous wheelie the sport has seen in years! But here's where it gets controversial: was this a thrilling display of raw power, or a scary reminder of how unpredictable these machines can be? Let's dive into what happened and why it sparked so much buzz.
During the first practice session for the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao, LCR Honda's Somkiat Chantra found himself in a nail-biting situation after taking that final corner. He unintentionally launched into an enormous wheelie – so massive that it almost caused his bike to flip backward, something that could have had serious consequences. Luckily, Chantra walked away unscathed, but the incident left everyone talking about the risks of pushing these beasts to their limits.
Reflecting on the drama afterward, Chantra shared that it all stemmed from a small error in judgment, compounded by the bike's fierce response. 'I decided to try a gear that the other riders weren't using,' he recounted, 'thinking sixth gear would keep the power in check. But on a MotoGP machine, that's not the case at all! As soon as I hit the incline, the bike shot up into a wheelie faster than I expected.'
He admitted to being shocked, his heart racing as he thought, 'Am I going to make it out of this alive?' After regaining control, he switched to the same gear as his competitors. Interestingly, sixth gear lacks the electronic wheelie control – a safety system that helps manage the front wheel lifting off the ground – which only kicks in up to fifth gear. And this is the part most people miss: the wind caught the bike mid-wheelie, pushing it even higher, turning a minor lift into something spectacularly uncontrolled.
MotoGP officials even drew parallels to a legendary moment from the past, comparing it to Max Biaggi's victory wheelie at Brno in 1998 after clinching the premier-class race. That tweet from MotoGP's official account captured the excitement: 'BLIMEY! @somkiat35 was channelling his inner Max Biaggi there 🤯 #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹' with a photo showing the bike soaring.
Fellow Honda rider Joan Mir, the 2020 world champion, weighed in on how easy this can happen with today's bikes. 'Woah, unbelievable!' he exclaimed. 'It's all because of those front wings – they provide downforce to keep the bike stable until the wheelie gets really extreme, then it reverses and lifts you even more. For a rookie like Chantra riding a MotoGP bike for the first time here, going full throttle on that hill can easily lead to a backflip!'
Mir, who knows how to handle these scenarios, stressed the importance of staying sharp on tracks like Portimao with its sharp elevation changes. Riders have a few tricks to prevent this: some apply the rear brake to keep the front down, others ease off the throttle, and some tweak the bike's electronics. 'In my case,' Mir said, 'I go with the rear brake.' For beginners in motorcycle racing, this highlights a key idea: MotoGP bikes aren't forgiving; their aerodynamics and power can turn a simple mistake into a high-stakes thrill ride. Imagine it like driving a sports car at full speed on a rollercoaster – one wrong move, and you're airborne!
But here's the controversy that might divide fans: does this incident point to a design flaw in modern MotoGP bikes, making them too twitchy for newcomers, or is it simply a case of rider inexperience that adds to the sport's excitement? Some might argue the wings and lack of wheelie control in higher gears prioritize speed over safety, potentially endangering lives. Others could see it as part of the daredevil nature that makes MotoGP thrilling. What do you think – should MotoGP adjust bike settings for rookies to prevent such scares, or does embracing the risk make the victories sweeter? Drop your opinions in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a completely different take!
