Chinese language bike producer QJ Motor has known as for the Gresini workforce it sponsors within the Moto2 class to instantly sack Motegi race winner Manuel Gonzalez after he wore a standard Japanese hachimaki headband.
Gonzalez, who took his maiden win within the intermediate class on the Japanese Grand Prix venue, wore the headscarf on the grid earlier than the beginning of final weekend’s race.
The hachimaki, a standard Japanese merchandise of clothes relationship again to the samurai period, was extensively adopted by the Japanese army throughout World Warfare Two, most notably by kamikaze pilots whereas flying suicide missions.
Japan’s invasion of China, which pre-dated the beginning of the battle in Europe by two years, is recognised by historians as one of many international battle’s most brutal theatres of battle, and resulted within the dying of round 20 million Chinese language residents.
Consequently, the hachimaki, whereas broadly related to martial arts within the West and nonetheless worn by many Japanese athletes, has a really completely different context in China.
QJ Motor described photographs of Gonzalez carrying the hachimaki, which appeared on social media platforms, as “a really discordant scene”.
It acknowledged its perception that Gonzalez meant no hurt, however nonetheless known as for his Gresini Racing workforce to drop him with 4 rounds of the 2024 championship remaining.
“Gonzalez, a racer of the cooperative workforce Gresini, was invited by the organiser earlier than the beginning of the race and privately wore the host nation’s “Bojumaki” ornament and unfold it on social platforms,” a press release from QJ Motor learn.
“Though it was an unintentional act as a result of he was a European participant and didn’t perceive Chinese language historical past, this behaviour has damage the nationwide emotions of Chinese language riders and the Chinese language folks.
“After the incident, Qianjiang Motorbike instantly carried out solemn negotiations with its companion Gresini workforce, demanding that the related footage and video content material be eliminated instantly, and that the workforce instantly terminate its cooperation with the rider.”
Gonzalez’s victory elevated him to sixth within the Moto2 standings.
The Race has contacted Gresini Racing for remark.
