More like a volcano than a track" - MotoGP riders raise heat concerns after crash-heavy Brno practice

MotoGP riders raised heat concerns after a crash-heavy Brno practice, linking the problem to extreme temperatures at Assen during the Dutch GP. Riders cited a heat wave in Europe that left the ambient air temperature at Assen at about 35C at the start of afternoon practice, driving track temperatures unusually high. Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia said hot weather was a major factor behind the large number of crashes on Friday, pointing to falls by Marc Marquez and the Gresini duo Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer across the two practice sessions. Aprilia’s Jorge Martin reported conditions that felt far hotter than in Thailand and Malaysia, adding that performance and pace dropped on longer runs. While Sunday’s maximum temperature was expected to fall below 30C, riders questioned whether a full-distance race would be advisable in similar conditions.