MOTOGP RIDERS PUSH BACK AGAINST GROWING DEMANDS

MotoGP riders are increasingly frustrated by what they see as a growing imbalance between their work as competitors and their obligations as promoters of the sport. Jack Miller summed up the distinction: “It’s misunderstood that we’re here to be entertainers. Which we are … but our entertainment is riding motorcycle races. The race is the show.”

Safety concerns have added to the tension. A special riders’ meeting was held before the cancelled Australian Grand Prix to discuss MotoGP’s plan to race in Qatar on November 6–8. The event had already been postponed because of the Iran war. The conflict has since continued and widened, while Germany’s Foreign Office advises against travel to Qatar. Despite those concerns, MotoGP has kept the race on its calendar, to the dismay of many in the paddock.

Riders have also objected to promotional duties that compete with preparation and recovery time. At the Japanese Grand Prix, Marc Marquez sent a stand-in in his racing gear to a karting event that required riders to complete a full lap of Motegi. Marquez said he had to ice his injured right shoulder after an extended warm-up, held so riders could test hard tyres that had become necessary at short notice. MotoGP responded with a warning that riders who skipped promotional events could face a €5,000 fine. Other commitments include the Hero Walk and a parade around the circuit on a flatbed truck.

A revised weekend format planned for 2027 has prompted further criticism. It will remove Sunday morning warm-up, leaving riders without a chance to test a bike repaired overnight after a crash. It will also add qualifying for Saturday’s sprint on Friday, followed by two more qualifying sessions on Saturday for Sunday’s Grand Prix. In two sessions, all 22 riders would be on track together for decisive laps—a format critics say increases risk. MotoGP official Carlos Ezpeleta said the changes followed a proposal from teams and were intended to reduce track time. Some riders see the opposite: Pedro Acosta warned the added demands could “shorten our careers.”

Not everyone opposes the changes. Marco Bezzecchi supports separate qualifying for the sprint, arguing: “At least you don’t ruin two races with a bad qualifying.” But riders’ broader complaint is that they were not consulted. Marquez said the new format meant “only a bigger workload” for riders and added: “We have nothing to say and have to keep our mouths shut. The teams and the organisation decide, so you take it or leave it.” Jorge Martin also said: “They don’t even ask us. It would be nice if the organisers showed some interest in the riders.”

The dispute has renewed questions about how effectively riders can influence decisions. The Friday safety commission meeting with MotoGP management remains a forum, but its influence and attendance have declined. Riders are already stretched by racing and promotional commitments, making it difficult to participate. One proposed solution is a collective body like Formula 1’s Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, though MotoGP riders have struggled to unite behind a representative. For now, many feel they are expected to perform for the show while having little say in how it is run.