MOTOGP FACES BACKLASH OVER POSSIBLE GRID PENALTIES FOR MISSED PROMOTIONAL EVENTS

MotoGP is reportedly considering tougher penalties for riders who miss promotional appearances, a proposal that has prompted concern among fans amid Marc Marquez’s close fight for the 2026 title.

Marquez sat out the go-kart race staged in place of the usual riders’ parade before the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. He was receiving physiotherapy for his right arm, while a body double appeared in his place. The Ducati rider is managing his physical workload carefully as he pursues Aprilia’s Jorge Martin in the championship. He has undergone seven surgeries since 2019 and has even done press-ups on the grid to get blood circulating in his arm.

Reports say riders were told before the Indonesian Grand Prix that missing promotional events could bring a €5,000 fine, with the amount potentially rising for repeated absences. The Race’s Simon Patterson has also heard a paddock rumour that MotoGP may consider sporting sanctions, including grid penalties, if a rider chooses to pay a fine rather than attend. No such penalty has been confirmed.

The possibility of punishing riders for missing promotional duties has drawn a sharp response from MotoGP News readers. Some fear the approach could push Marquez towards an early retirement, comparing the situation with Casey Stoner’s departure. One commenter wrote: “They are going to push him out like Stoner.” Others suggested the idea was intended to hinder Marquez’s title bid, with one saying: “Anything to keep Marquez from winning another title,” and another claiming: “They’re just too scared of Marc being the champ again.”

Several fans described the reported fines and possible grid penalties as excessive. One called the series “out of control,” while another urged riders to refuse promotional appearances together, asking: “What’s next, Kim Kardashian doing commentary?” A further commenter called on riders to challenge MotoGP’s governing body, saying: “It’s time for the riders to tell Dorna to go pound sand!” They also listed tyre-pressure rules and track limits among their grievances, adding that teams and riders—not Dorna—make the show.

The timing has intensified the debate: Martin leads the standings on 355 points, just two ahead of Marquez, with five rounds remaining. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi is third on 309 points. The Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island is next, and one fan argued that the championship should be settled through racing rather than administrative decisions: “The title should be decided on the track, not in the boardroom.”