FIM STEWARDS REJECT APRILIA APPEAL FOR.MARCO BEZZECCHI BRNO MOTOGP BAN

The FIM Appeal Stewards have dismissed an appeal from Aprilia in relation to the suspension of Marco Bezzecchi from the Czech MotoGP.

Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Czech Grand Prix, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose

An appeal lodged by Aprilia against the suspension of Marco Bezzecchi from the Brno MotoGP has been rejected by the FIM MotoGP Stewards panel.

The decision to suspend Marco Bezzecchi was announced by the FIM MotoGP Stewards panel as a result of an investigation into an incident which occurred after Bezzecchi crashed out of the Sprint at Brno, as the Italian pushed and struck a marshal who was trying to recover his bike.

An appeal was lodged by Aprilia shortly after the suspension was announced at 19:52 local time in Brno. The appeal hearings were held between 20:05 and 20:37 and involved Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing team manager Paolo Bonora, and Simon Crafar, Tamara Matko, and Andres Somolinos from the MotoGP Stewards panel.

Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Brno MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

A statement released from stewards confirmed the rejection of the appeal and the upholding of the suspension of Bezzecchi from the Czech Grand Prix.

The reasoning given by the FIM MotoGP Stewards for the rejection of the appeal is as follows.

“The FIM Appeal Stewards have carefully considered the submissions made on behalf of the rider and the evidence presented, including video footage, official reports and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” a statement from the stewards reads.

“Whilst the Appeal Stewards recognise that riders involved in accidents may experience frustration, disappointment and heightened emotion immediately following an accident, such circumstances cannot excuse or justify physical aggression directed towards circuit personnel performing their official duties.

“Circuit marshals and other safety officials are fundamental to the safe conduct of motorcycle sport. They operate in hazardous environments, often placing themselves in close proximity to moving motorcycles and other dangers in order to protect competitors and facilitate the safe continuation of the event. The sport relies on these officials carrying out their responsibilities without fear of intimidation, abuse, or physical assault.

Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Brno MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

“The principles of sporting conduct require all participants to treat officials, marshals, and volunteers with respect at all times. Any physical contact of an aggressive nature towards a circuit safety official represents a serious departure from those standards and undermines the mutual trust and respect upon which the safe operation of the Championship depends.

“The Appeal Stewards consider it particularly significant that the individuals involved were marshals actively engaged in the recovery of the rider's machine following an accident. Such personnel were acting solely in the interests of rider safety, event safety, and the orderly conduct of the competition.

Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Brno MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

“Physical aggression towards marshals is wholly unacceptable in professional motorsport and cannot be tolerated regardless of the circumstances leading to the incident. Failure to respond appropriately to such conduct would risk sending the wrong message to competitors throughout the Championship and would be inconsistent with the governing body's obligation to protect officials, volunteers, and workers who contribute to the sport.

“Having regard to the seriousness of the conduct, the status of the persons involved as circuit safety officials, the need to uphold proper standards of behavior, and the need for both specific and general deterrence, the Appeal Stewards are satisfied that the Stewards Panel was entitled to conclude that the rider's actions constituted an action prejudicial to the interests of the sport.

“The Appeal Stewards further conclude that the sanction imposed is proportionate to the seriousness of the infringement and falls within the reasonable range of penalties available to the Stewards Panel. Accordingly, the appeal is rejected and the original decision is upheld in its entirety.”

- Alex Whitworth

MOTOGP: BAGNAIA ON POLE POSITION AT BRNO

Francesco Bagnaia in Parc fermé after his pole position at Brno. Photo courtesy Dorna.

© 2025, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By Mathilde Gasnier.

Francesco Bagnaia earned pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying on Saturday at Automotodrom Brno, in Czech Republic. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25, the two-time World Champion broke Marc Marquez’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:53.145 he set in FP2 with a time of 1:52.303 around the 3.36-mile (5.40 km) circuit during Qualifying Two (Q2) on Saturday.

His teammate, Marc Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:52.522, and Fabio Quartararo claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:52.608 on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1.

Row-two qualifiers included Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi (1:52.644), Joan Mir on his Honda HRC Castrol RC213V (1:52.763) and Raul Fernandez on his Trackhouse RS-GP (1:52.796).

Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martín made a strong return in Brno, working his way into Q2 before ultimately finishing 12th on his Aprilia RS-GP25.

Bagnaia bags Brno pole from Q1 as Marc Marquez crashes. Pecco pockets his first pole of 2025 to beat the #93 in Q2, as Quartararo earns P3 with Martin 12th on the grid. 

Q1 to pole position equals a great morning’s work for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the double MotoGP World Champion claims his first pole of 2025, and late drama unfolds for his teammate Marc Marquez. Despite the final time attack lap Turn 13 crash, the championship leader will launch from P2 on the grid as the factory Ducati duo are joined on the front row by Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).

Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), the rider second in the standings, is forced to settle for the third row launch in the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix, as reigning World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) gets set to line up in P12 after his first qualifying outing since April.

Q1 – Bagnaia and Raul Fernandez through, Di Giannantonio misses out

All eyes were on 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion Bagnaia in Q1, and it wasn’t a smooth sailing opening stint for the Italian. Pecco pitted after sitting up and out of his second flying lap while he was P6, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Maverick Viñales’ replacement Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3) occupying P1 and P2 as things stood.

A better lap was landed by Pecco on his second run though. A 1:52.715 saw the Italian go 0.4s clear of Di Giannantonio, before Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) climbed to P2. Not for long though. The impressive Espargaro jumped back into the top two before Di Giannantonio went 0.184s off Pecco – but that wasn’t enough. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) powered his way to P2 to go 0.060s away from Bagnaia, so the pressure was on Di Giannantonio in the closing stages.

Did the Italian have a reply? He improved his time, but Di Giannantonio stayed P3. Fernandez’s very solid lap was good enough to knock the VR46 star out of qualifying, as Bagnaia and Trackhouse’s Spaniard strolled into Q2.

Q2 – LATE DRAMA SEES PECCO POCKET POLE

The first benchmark lap was set by Marc Marquez and it was a 1:52.522, with Quartararo slotting into an early P2 to sit 0.093s away from the #93. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) placed themselves in P3 and P4, with the returning Martin P10 after his opening effort in Q2.

Having not yet set a lap, Bagnaia was on a charge with five minutes to go. The #63 was 0.119s under Marc Marquez’s time through split two, 0.133s under through split three, and over the line, Pecco pocketed provisional pole by 0.219s.

Now, what did Marc Marquez, Quartararo and the others have in response? Well Bezzecchi, after running into the gravel at Turn 1, was down as he started his next flying lap, which was very costly for Bezzecchi because his front row hopes were gone. And with the yellow flags still waving, a lot of laps were scrubbed off with two minutes to go.

Fernandez’s wasn’t though. The #25 rose to P5 from P12, which shoved Alex Marquez down to P7 as one time attack lap remained for Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Quartararo, Alex Marquez and Acosta, who were all on track together and fighting for prime position.

Marc Marquez led the freight train and through Sector 1, he lit up the timing screens. The gap was 0.245s through the third split as pole position looked guaranteed – until it wasn’t. Marc Marquez was down at Turn 13 and it was in the same place where Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) had crashed seconds before, as the penultimate corner caught out Friday’s fastest duo. 

So with that late drama, pole position went the way of Marc Marquez’s teammate Pecco. A first of the year for the #63, as the championship leader had to settle for P2, with Quartararo earning P3.

TOP 12 ON THE CZECH GP GRID

Bezzecchi’s crash, in the end, didn’t cost him a place as the Aprilia ride spearheads Row 2, with Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) securing his best qualifying result of the season with P5. The 2020 World Champion has Fernandez alongside him in P6, that’s his best Saturday morning result of the campaign too, as Acosta fronts Row 3 in P7.

Alex Marquez has work to do from P8 if he’s to stop Marc Marquez from extending his championship lead, with Zarco completing that third row in ninth. P10 went to Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), 11th belongs to Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), while reigning World Champion Martin starts from P12 in his first Grand Prix since Qatar.

COMING UP: BRNO’S TISSOT SPRINT

Bagnaia on pole, Marc Marquez P2, Quartararo leading the fight to the Ducatis, Alex Marquez needing a great launch, and what can Martin muster up? Plenty of questions, and we’ll get the answers late this afternoon at 15:00 local time. Tune in.