Gresini came out of the euphoria after his first victory in Moto2 to have in the air the continuity of Manu Gonzalezwinner in Japan. The main sponsor of the Italian team, QJ engine asked the team led by Nadia Padovani to “Immediately terminate your cooperation with the pilot” Spanish. The Chinese giant is very angry with the 22-year-old from Madrid for a gesture that took place before the race and that he made in complete innocence.
Manu González wore a hachimaki during the formation of the Moto2 grid, just before the start of the race in Motegi. He hachimaki is a traditional japanese ribbon with in the center the drawing of the rising sun, an imperial symbol, used by kamikaze pilots and other Japanese soldiers as a symbol of sacrifice and nationalist fervor during the Second World War. However, in China this film reminds us of atrocities committed by the Japanese army during the invasion of China, during which between 15 and 20 million Chinese lost their lives and, as a result, It is considered an offense against the country.
For this reason, QJ enginemain sponsor of Gresini In Moto2, demanded the dismissal of Manu González and requested that all images and videos from that moment be removed from social networks and press areas: “Recently, during the highly anticipated MotoGP race in Motegi in October 2024, the QJMOTOR team won the race with exceptional performance. However, a very shocking scene happened on the track: Gonzalezdriver of the Gresini team, was invited by the organizer before the start of the race and, privately, wore the “Bojumaki” decoration of the host country and share it on social platforms. Gresini was required to immediately delete the images and videos in question.
Even if the Chinese giant understands that it is an “unintentional act” on the part of the Spaniard, because “he did not understand the history of China”, he assures that it hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and that is why he must fire Manu González immediately: “Although It was an involuntary act.since he was a European pilot and I didn’t understand Chinese historythis behavior hurt national sentiments Chinese pilots and of the Chinese people“.
“Following the incident, Qianjiang Motorcycle immediately held solemn negotiations with its partner team Gresini, demanding that relevant images and videos are immediately deleted, and that the team immediately terminates its cooperation with the driver», Continues the press release from QJ Motor.
Nevertheless, Manu Gonzalez will not continue in the team next year, since will embark on a new adventure in the GP Intact in 2025. But the Chinese sponsor does not want him to race with the Italian team again and demands that he be stopped immediately, although for now Gresini has not said anything about it. There are four races left before the conclusion of the World Championship, which will end in mid-November in Valencia, and the Madrid driver has mathematical options to fight for the World Championship. Gresini’s is 75 points behind leader Ai Ogura with 100 to go.
