Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, was the location for the third round of the 2025 MotoGP season. The pole position rider, Marc Marquez, made an unexpected decision in the final minutes, leaving his wet-spec bike on the grid and running to the pit lane to switch to a dry-spec bike. This sudden move triggered a chain reaction, with nine other riders following suit. However, the race organizers waved the red flag for safety reasons and decided to restart the race from the beginning.
As if that chaos wasn’t enough, the race start was disrupted by another unexpected incident, this time involving a four-wheeled vehicle. Yes, the MotoGP safety car was involved in an accident before the green light came on. Footage captured by a spectator showed the new BMW M5 losing control and hitting the side barrier. Some factors may have contributed to this mishap, such as the damp surface affecting the available grip, exacerbated by cold tires.
Despite the M5 having xDrive as standard, it still had a specific 2WD mode like its predecessor. When activated, the 717 horsepower generated by the V-8 4.4-liter twin-turbo engine and electric motor were exclusively sent to the rear wheels. Perhaps the driver was too enthusiastic with the gas pedal coming out of turn 14 and lost control of the Bavarian missile? Whether the rear-wheel-drive mode was active remains unclear, but even the carbon-ceramic brakes couldn’t stop this 5,390-pound sedan in time.
Interestingly, this was not the first time an M5 dressed up as the MotoGP safety car was involved in an accident. During the warm-up lap for the 2017 Perez Grand Prix, the previous-generation model crashed into the barrier with Italian rider Franco Uncini behind the wheel. BMW has been supplying safety cars for MotoGP since 1999, and this year is using the M5 Touring. However, none can match the elegance of the 2002 Z8 roadster.
