Usually when animals run in and interrupt a sporting event, it’s great fun. For example, the goose that decided to settle down in the middle of Dodger Stadium during the NLDS. But when it happens at a racetrack, it’s more scary than cute. And when it comes to motorcycles, it can get really bad for both rider and animal.
Thankfully everyone was fine at Philip Island in Australia as a wallaby ran onto the track during MotoGP’s first practice session and Spanish rider Aleix Espargaró narrowly avoided drilling the marsupial at 135 mph.
A close call for the Wallaby and @AleixEspargaro! 😅#AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/qn5gNcaqQz
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 14, 2022
As you can see, Espargaró didn’t really react when he rode past the wallaby. It was probably too fast to react so it’s great that this had a happy ending and both Espargaró and wallaby went about the rest of their day.
Some have pointed out that with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in no racing on Philip Island for the past two-and-a-half years, local wildlife isn’t used to fast vehicles speeding around the track and that may increase the risk of animals running out onto the track. It remains to be seen if organizers will look to improve the situation throughout the race weekend.
