Scary moment in the smoke for Dovizioso, Stoner

"After Ben's engine broke I couldn't see anything And I couldn't see where Ben was" - Andrea Dovizioso.

20 Aug 2012

Spies engine blows up behind Lorenzo, Indianapolis MotoGP 2012
© Gold and Goose

When Ben Spies' engine exploded along the main straight whilst running second in Sunday's Indianapolis MotoGP (pictured), it caused some scary moments for those behind the Texan.

While Spies' Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo passed into second without trouble, the growing cloud of smoke around turn one caused major vision problems for those next in line.

"After Ben's engine broke I couldn't see anything And I couldn't see where Ben was," said Andrea Dovizioso, who moved from fourth to third after Spies' retirement.

"It was so dangerous for me and Casey and Bautista. Also, when the smoke was gone, I had all the oil in my visor, so I didn't know if I had oil on the tyres as well."

Stoner, who lost a place to Stefan Bradl as he ran wide through the smoke, added: "I found myself in the middle of the smoke, unsure where I was going and what I might hit and we lost positions again."

Dovizioso went on to finish third and Stoner fourth.