The Australian motorcycling great Wayne Gardner was arrested and questioned by police on Sunday over an alleged road rage incident in Japan.
Gardner, 57, is thought to have been involved in a minor accident on arrival at the Japanese Grand Prix, held at the Motegi racetrack, 160km north of Tokyo.
The incident sparked an argument between Gardner and the three occupants of the car and Gardner allegedly grabbed each of the men by the collar and pushed them around.
“He was arrested on charges of assault inside the Twin Ring Motegi,” a police spokesman said.
Gardner, a former world champion, was in the country to support his son Remy, who finished 19th in the Moto2 race on Sunday.
He denied the charges, telling reporters he was merely attempting to disengage himself from the grip of one of the men, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun Daily.
Gardner became the first Australian to win motorcycling’s 500cc world championship in 1987 and won the Suzuka Eight Hours endurance race four times during a successful 10-year career.
Tochigi prefectural police have been contacted for comment.
