It took MotoGP stewards almost two weeks to deliver a verdict on the headline-making collision between Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Márquez at the start of the race in Indonesia. The Italian rider found himself in the spotlight after his maneuver in turn eight led to a dangerous situation and a crash, resulting in injuries for both athletes.
Immediately after the incident, the stewards decided not to rush to conclusions, as Bezzecchi had been taken to the Mandalika track medical center and was unable to provide an explanation. The hearing was postponed to the next round of the championship, allowing him to present his position in Australia.
At Phillip Island, Marco met with the commissioners in person. After discussing the circumstances of the incident, the stewards reached a clear decision: to penalize the rider with two mandatory passes through the ‘Long Lap’ zone during Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix race. The ruling cited the creation of a dangerous situation and causing a crash on the opening lap of the Indonesian race, referencing the relevant MotoGP regulations.
An additional factor in the sanction was the recurrence of similar incidents involving Bezzecchi. Earlier this season, he had already faced disciplinary action for an incident with Fabio Quartararo in Argentina. Stewards noted that this was his second violation of safety rules within the year.
Bezzecchi himself did not deny his responsibility. Immediately after the crash, he met with Márquez at the medical center and offered his apologies. The Spanish rider, in turn, publicly urged people not to hold a grudge against his opponent. In Australia, the Italian once again expressed regret over the incident, stressing that he had not planned to overtake Márquez at that moment but misjudged the situation while braking. According to him, the consequences of the crash were aggravated by the characteristics of the gravel trap at the Mandalika track, which, in his view, significantly increased the severity of the fall.
Despite ongoing back pain, Bezzecchi is ready to serve his penalty and continue competing in the championship. His team also expressed support for the athlete, noting that such incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations on the track.
The sanction will take effect at the upcoming round in Australia, where the Italian will have to pass through a special zone twice, which could significantly impact his position in the race and in the championship standings. MotoGP continues to closely monitor participants’ discipline to minimize risks for all riders.
