Written by By Staff Writer
On Sunday afternoon, multiple reports from Moto2 and Moto3 races in America emerged claiming that a race official had been attacked by competitors at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
It is unclear what prompted the “serious physical attacks,” according to ESPN.
But another option is that the incident was related to the sport’s drug testing program.
World championship leader Johann Zarco of France, reigning world champion Johann Zarco of France, and Guillen Niasse of Portugal were among those sent off the track after violating the program, which includes frequent drug testing.
Zarco tested positive for marijuana in July.
Five-time world champion Valentino Rossi, whose home town of Tuscany is located in Italy, tested positive for cocaine in 2016.
Toxicology tests, however, found no evidence of a second test, and he was later cleared of criminal wrongdoing by prosecutors.
Aleix Espargaro of Spain (who tested positive for cocaine in May 2017) was issued a three-month driving ban in July after reoffending, while 14 other riders were sent home in June after violating the rule in a similar fashion.
Media reports indicate all of those riders tested positive for alcohol or marijuana.
Moto2 title holder Joan Mir of Spain issued a series of tweets on Sunday seeking to quell the unrest.
He praised MotoGP for “improving the sport” and said that it “should never be like this”:
Of the riders, Zarco remains the title leader with 18 points, followed by Marc Marquez of Spain with 15 points and Aleix Espargaro of Spain with 14 points.
The Spanish GP takes place this Sunday.