A slaꦇp from the Aprilia rider to his Yamaha rival♍’s helmet on Saturday in Qatar was just the beginning of an ongoing bust-up.

Morbidelli accu💞sed Espargaro of “disrespect” and asked: “I wonder what he will say to his kids?”

Espargaro apologised for the slap but fumed that Morbidelli had “crossed a sacred line” by mentioning his f🍎ami꧑ly.

TNT Sports’ Sylvain Guintoli said about Espar🐼garo: “[Somebo🍒dy needs to] chat to him, and tell him to calm down a little bit. 

“Because we do♑n’t want anything bad to h🅘appen. 

“When those guys are o🌺n track, you put your life at risk.&nb🌱sp;

“You don’t want that feeling between the🐠 riders. That’s not nice.”

N🔜eil Hodgson added: “With those comments, you feel like no-one has learned a lesson. It feels like we’ve gone full-circle here.”

Suzi Perry said: “Is there ever a situation where it’s okay to la⛄sh out and hit somebody? There isn’t, in sport, is there?”

Gavin Emmett replied: “Or, ultimately, in any other jo🐓b or walk of life…”

Espargaro was 💝hit with a €10,000 fine ﷺand a six-place grid penalty for the slap.

He then injured his ankle later the same day, meaning he retired early 🌃from the Qatar MotoGP after serving his punishment.

His inclusion in this weekend’s season-finale, and the postseason test, in Valencia may come under question due to his injur👍y.