In a bizarre incident from Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, a Ducati rider speeding down the main straight was black-flagged after he pulled a wheelie. The viral video has triggered a debate on whether wheelies should be allowed on racetracks.
Helmet cam footage from another motorcyclist shows what appears to be a red Ducati Panigale V4 speeding down the straight, before both riders spot the black flag being waved before Turn 1, signaling that they had to end the track session because of the wheelie.
It is unclear if the Ducati rider clutched the front wheel up on purpose or if it was an accidental power wheelie, since both riders were on full throttle on that straight. Riders are often cautioned against pulling clutch wheelies, given the dangers it poses on track days.
Wheelies were likely banned for this track session for safety, but since wheelies are illegal on public roads, some argue that riders must be allowed to practice them on racetracks, while others argue that they are too dangerous. Some comments are shared below:
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Speaking of wheelies, MotorBiscuit recently reported how Aprilia MotoGP rider Jorge Martin crashed after attempting a wheelie at around 100 mph at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas last weekend.
Martin popped the front wheel to celebrate the sprint race victory, but it ended up being an embarrassing disaster. From the footage, Martin likely turned the handlebars towards the right when the front wheel was in the air, and failed to straighten it before it hit the ground again.
This meant that the front wheel landed at an angle instead of being straight, leading to the crash. The crash came as a surprise not only to the race winner but also to the crowd, which can be heard reacting in awe. Fortunately, Martin walked away uninjured and returned to the paddock.
