Australian rider Jack Miller was involved in a heated exchange during the latter stages of the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez overnight.
With eight laps remaining, Prima Pramac driver Franco Morbidelli dropped in on Miller at turn five of the Circuito de Jerez as the pair jostled for 11th place.
Morbidelli appeared to fall as he attempted to overtake Miller, taking the KTM rider down with him.
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"There was a moment in the race when I was faster than Jack and it was very difficult to overtake, but at a certain point he opened up and I was in my path. I don't know if he didn't see me and eventually, we touched and crashed," Morbidelli explained post-match.
After both riders got to their feet, Miller made a beeline for Morbidelli.
Furious with the crash, Miller was seen screaming and aggressively waving his fists at Morbidelli in the gravel trap at the side of the track before circuit marshals came between them.
The two came so close, that Miller allegedly headbutted Morbidelli.
Later asked what was said during the fiery encounter, Morbidelli believed Miller was more disappointed with himself than anything else.
"[Miller] had something to say but I didn't hear him, I had earplugs in. But I don't think it had anything to do with how I was doing," he said with a grin.
In a post on X, Miller claimed: "I copped a bike to the side. There was nothing I could do about it".
https://twitter.com/denkmit/status/1784587665578307784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/jackmilleraus/status/1784673649355849782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
No penalties were handed out as a consequence with the race stewards deeming the crash "a racing incident".
Earlier, Johann Zarco and Aleix Espargaro also had their races ended prematurely after colliding on lap 10 in a battle for 16th position.
Espargaro lost the front going into turn five, striking Zarco's LCR Honda and sending him flying.
The crashes followed 15 accidents in the sprint race the day before, largely caused by damp patches on the tack.
Ducati Lenovo's Francesco Bagnaia finished ahead of Gresini's Marc Marquez to win his third successive Spanish MotoGP and second GP of the season.
Marquez started from pole but was passed by a charging Bagnaia on the second lap to set up a race-long duel.
Marco Bezzecchi of Pertamina Enduro finished in third to secure his first podium of the season.
Marquez, a six-time world champion, has not won a race since he claimed his 59th career win at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in October 2021.
Championship leader Jorge Martin crashed out of the race when leading with 15 laps to go, but retains his lead in the drivers' standings.
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