Jack Miller, Brad Binder and Fabio Quartararo all emerged from the second-corner incident at Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix without serious injury.
The race was red-flagged following the multi-rider crash, with Miller receiving attention on the circuit after his head appeared to hit the back of Quartararo’s Yamaha as he fell from his factory KTM. Honda’s Joan Mir also ran over the Australian’s leg during the incident.
Miller’s situation caused concern in the paddock, but after being taken to the medical centre he was able to walk back to his garage minutes later, even before the race was restarted.
There was nonetheless no question of Miller riding again on Sunday after such a heavy accident.
Miller’s team-mate Binder did attempt to return to the track despite some pain in his left shoulder, but the South African brought his bike back to the pits after the discomfort proved too much on his way to the grid.
Quartararo escaped the incident with nothing more than a limp, and was able to take the restart, albeit on his second Yamaha. He finished the race in sixth position.
The Frenchman was the only one of the three riders to speak to the media on Sunday.
“I didn’t even see what happened,” said Quartararo. “It just felt like somebody hit me on the inside. It felt like a lot, and it was Jack’s head.
“I didn’t know how he was but I saw him in the paddock just before the restart so I was really happy that he was fine. Because [the crash] was a really scary one.”
KTM team manager Francesco Guidotti summed up his squad’s short Sunday after the race.
“It was very bad to see but luckily nobody is injured,” said Guidotti. “Everything is fine.
“Jack went to the medical centre to have his foot checked but he is fine. He has no pain anywhere.
“Brad tried to take the second start but the pain in his left shoulder didn’t allow it. It wasn’t safe for him and for the others.
2024 Malaysian GP - Opening lap crash
“If the pain is still there tomorrow, maybe Brad will go to have the shoulder checked.
“We have to be happy that both of them are fine and now look toward the last race.”
While noting that the incident had been triggered by contact between Binder and Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), the stewards announced after the race that there would be no further action.
Guidotti agreed with the assessment from race control.
“From the images we have, it’s not really clear what happened,” he said. “It looks like Brad was far to the inside and touched someone [Marquez] in front. He had to pick up the bike and he hit Fabio. Then Fabio hit Jack.
“It was like a domino [effect]. I think it’s just a racing incident.”
