Located on the Adriatic Sea and bathed in the sun, Rijeka is a Croatian city with a heavenly feel. But not so long ago, the motorcycle world championship came to drop off not far from here, on a particularly formidable circuit.
The Rijeka circuit, today called ‘Automotodrom Grobnik’, was built in 1977 to replace an old dangerous loop: Opatija. The latter, very technical, crisscrossed the town of the same name, earning it the nickname “little Monaco”. The Yugoslav Grand Prix had taken place there since 1969; an essential round of the championship.
In order to maintain this publicity for the magnificent Kvarner Bay, Josep Broz Tito ordered to build a new circuit on the outskirts of Rijeka. In just two months, on a plain, a route was designed and from the start, it was a source of trouble. The turns are far too fast, and the circuit has a number of corner braking areas, passages that are difficult to negotiate for vintage motorcycles. A real headache. Very short and narrow, it has the appearance of a turnstile. In addition, the asphalt applied is of poor quality. But never mind ! After all, it looks like
Salzburgring and running in Yugoslavia represents a great opportunity to promote the sport. The pilots, as was often the case at the time, were not listened to.
The famous city of Rijeka. Photo: Antonio199cro
For the first year of operation, no 500cc. But Ricardo Tormo as well as Ángel Nieto are flying the Spanish flag in the small categories. For now, everything is going smoothly. In 1979, however, Kenny Roberts wins the 500cc trophy, a category which will not be run the following year. But the circuit is far from unanimous, especially as the surface deteriorates more and more. Pilots must therefore exercise great caution.
The falls, sometimes serious, follow one another. Frenchman Michel Rougerie, 1975 250cc world vice-champion, fell in the second round of the 350cc round. Stunned, he gets up in the middle of the track and decides to cross it to take shelter; an improbable situation. Roger Sibille, another Frenchman, cannot avoid him and hits him head-on.
This accident, one of the most appalling ever recorded on video, has gone down in history. Sibille only came out with a severe bout of heat, unlike her compatriot. Broken cervicals, Michel Rougerie died instantly on May 31, 1981.. The obvious lack of safety and clearances does not seem to alert the FIM, which keeps the Yugoslav route on the calendar. However, in 1983, it was the Swiss Rolf Rüttimann who died when he hit a “safety” rail. A sad story… but the nightmare has only just begun.
Described as chaotic by commentators, the asphalt is difficult to see and does not ensure splendid races. On top of that, politics gets involved: in 1985, the South African Mario Rademayer was unable to enter the territory, Yugoslavia having cut ties because of Apartheid. Meanwhile, the layout does a good job of Wayne Gardner et
Eddie Lawson : the two rivals share four victories in four years, from 1985 to 1988. If they are successful, this is not the case for the competitors: in 1987,
Niall Mackenzie, Freddie Spencer and Sarron injured during testing. A year later, it was the legend Anton Mang who was seriously injured in the collarbone, and who ended his career immediately.
A pilot in Yugoslavia during the 1969 edition. Photo: Yanko Stefe
But it’s nothing, compared to 1990. This weekend, the FIM would like to forget it. Everything indicated that the meeting would have to be canceled. Three weeks before the organization of the race,
the Italian Eros Manferdini is killed during the European Championship. During practice, Sarron fell heavily, then was taken off the track too quickly by marshals who showed little concern for the Frenchman’s state of health.
Critics began to rumble, targeting the amateurism of the organization. Still during the tests, in 250cc this time, Wilco Zeelenberg was the victim of an enormous volume. During the 500cc race, Sito Pons fell before being evacuated too suddenly. However, he had just been hit by Pierfrancesco Chili. An unnecessarily risky maneuver validating the pilots’ comments regarding the organization. In total, only nine classified in 500cc, four of which were more than one round away. A real massacre.
But the real problem arose earlier, during the 250cc round. The rain appeared at the start of the race, forcing the drivers to stop. But the commissioners realized, once again, the unforgivable! The red flags were not waved everywhere on the circuit. A certain Darren Milner, Zeelenberg’s replacement, saw these flags meaning an immediate end to the race.
He was moving at an abnormally slow speed when the German Reinhold Roth hit him. The shock was of rare violence. Álex Crivillé had to jump off his motorbike to avoid them, and was injured at the same time. Milner and the Spaniard were evacuated haphazardly, but escaped without much harm. Roth was not so lucky.
Helicoptered to the nearest hospital, it was Doctor Costa who provided him with first aid. Having lost his helmet in the accident, specialists are pessimistic. But thanks to Costa’s actions, he managed to escape after two months of coma, although hemiplegic. Since then, nurses came to take care of him daily; a direct victim of the irresponsibility of the FIM at the time, more occupied with the expansion of the sport than with the health of the participants. Reinhold died on October 15, 2021.
This weekend of shame puts an end to the Yugoslav Grand Prix. Well, not quite: the authorities, believe it or not, were in favor of a 1991 edition which was going to be organized! The latter was canceled due to the war which began at the end of June. This formidable circuit, coupled with disastrous organization, has never been seen again in any world championship since.
Did you know this crazy story? Tell us in the comments!
The current Grobnik, still in use.
2024-01-22 20:05:44
#Retro #crazy #story #formidable #track #Paddock
