Motorcycle racer Remy Gardner still intends to race in this weekend’s Australian grand prix despite having been detained in Japan over an alleged driving licence violation.
Gardner, 18, and his father, the motorcycling great Wayne Gardner, were detained over the weekend in the aftermath of an incident at the Twin Ring Motegi racetrack, 160km (100 miles) north of Tokyo, during which Wayne Gardner was arrested on suspicion of assault following a scuffle with three men.
Gardner, a former world champion, allegedly assaulted the men as he arrived at the track with Remy, who was due to compete in the Japanese grand prix later that day. Wayne Gardner allegedly grabbed each of the men by the collar and pushed them around, according to Japanese police.
He has denied assault, claiming instead that he was attempting to disengage himself from the grip of one of the men. Japanese newspapers reported that Remy Gardner had been seen behind the wheel of the car just before the incident. He went on to compete in Sunday’s Moto2 race, finishing 19th.
Police in Tochigi prefecture, where Motegi is located, had confirmed they were holding an 18-year-old man but declined to name him or connect his arrest to the alleged road rage incident involving Wayne Gardner. Japanese police do not release the names of suspects aged below 20 as they are treated as juveniles under Japanese law.
A police spokesman told the Guardian that the unnamed suspect had been detained on Monday morning for driving without a licence just before 8am the previous day – around the same time as Wayne Gardner was involved in the altercation at Motegi race track.
It now appears that Remy has been released from detention and is preparing to leave Japan. A statement released on Remy’s official website on Wednesday said: “Despite recent media speculation and rumour, Remy Gardner is currently en-route to Phillip Island where his intention is to ride in the upcoming Moto2 race in front of his home fans.”
“In response to the stories circulating in the press and on social media, he has not been charged with any offence relating to a road rage incident that occurred in Japan and looks forward to completing the season with Tasca Scuderia Racing.
“Remy has no comment in relation to the incident.”
The statement made no mention of Wayne Gardner’s current situation.
The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told the Nine Network earlier on Wednesday that consular support had been provided to the Gardners.
Wayne Gardner, 57, 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.
