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

WHY MOTOGP CAN'T AFFORD A REPEAT OF THE KAZAKHSTAN GP FIASCO

OPINION: The addition to the MotoGP calendar of a second round at Misano, replacing the Kazakhstan Grand Prix, highlights the need for a change in how a championship focused on expansion manages its selection of new destinations

Kazakhstan track for 2023 MotoGP season
Photo by: MotoGP

MotoGP's planned debut at the Sokol International Circuit has become something of a soap opera. At this point, it is quite understandable that most of the paddock's members doubt that the Kazakhstan race will ever take place.

The 'show' has offered several chapters. Dorna, the rights holder for the event, first introduced Kazakhstan on the 2023 calendar. Under the slogan "New circuit, new challenge", the Spanish company published a video as a hook, informing fans about its impending premiere.

It's unlikely that any of the executives who made the decision to embark on this exotic adventure could have foreseen the true extent of this "challenge", which will remain pending until at least 2025. The cancellation of the first edition was reported in April last year, once it became clear that the track's delayed homologation would not be possible in the two months remaining before the scheduled race. This was then postponed for 2024, specifically for the month of July.

When the season started in March, rumours hinting that work on the facility and the services that any event must guarantee - stewards, doctors and so on - had some shortcomings were already starting to spread. At the beginning of May, Dorna reported another postponement of the race to a later weekend, but without a specific date.

At the time, the reason for the temporary suspension was given as "unprecedented" flooding in the Central Asian region, which forced the Kazakh authorities to declare a state of emergency and evacuate a large part of the population. Therefore, "it would not be responsible for MotoGP to add any additional burden to the authorities or services as they work to help the tens of thousands of people affected across the country," stressed the statement, which gave no further details about the new schedule.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. Motorsport Images

The explanation offered at the time was perfectly understandable; the one given for cancelling the Indian Grand Prix was not. If the first edition of the event at the Buddh circuit was already a considerable effort for many of those who were there, there are reasonable doubts as to whether there will be a second.

As Motorsport.com reported at the time, local promoter Fairstreet Sports failed to honour its financial commitment to Dorna for the 2023 grand prix, and there was no indication that it would be able to catch up for 2024, as the September date for the event drew nearer. 

In a statement that created more doubts than it cleared up, the FIM, IRTA and Dorna again cited meteorological reasons for cancelling the 2024 race. It read: "On the advice of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, racing will return to the Buddh International Circuit in March 2025, when weather conditions are expected to be optimal for both spectators and riders."

"Now that the times of the pandemic are long gone, it is very difficult to justify holding two races on the same track only two weeks apart"

At the time, someone thought it would be a good idea to use the weekend that was free for the visit to Sokol, probably thinking that by the end of September, all the remaining operational aspects could have been resolved. Razlan Razali was asked for help to try to speed it up and, after leaving the management of the RNF team to one side, he took charge of the rescue operation in Kazakhstan.

If we take as a reference the definitive cancellation of the race, announced on Monday, and its replacement by a second race in Misano, we can conclude that the Malaysian businessman was as successful in the latter as he was in the former.

Most players involved in the championship agree that the current situation deserves some reflection, to avoid embarrassing situations such as those that have been occurring. Obviously, an itinerant series which travels across five continents can be affected by unexpected events such as, for example, the change of government which forced the suspension of the Argentinean Grand Prix.

However, a championship that is working on its expansion cannot afford spectacles such as those in India and Kazakhstan. Not to mention the confusion created for most of the teams, whose logistics departments are overwhelmed, trying to fit in a season that fluctuates more than prices.

Motorsport Images

It remains to be seen how the crates with all the equipment and the bikes will arrive in Indonesia, with the narrow window between the chequered flag at the Marco Simoncelli circuit and the Lombok circuit, where the race takes place the week after.

If it is already striking that Dorna chooses which remote areas to host grands prix, episodes such as India and Kazakhstan are two shots in the foot. It is a disservice to designate the new Balaton track in Hungary as a reserve option, and for it not to come into play when, for one reason or another, there are several gaps that end up being filled in a bad way.

Now that, fortunately, the times of the pandemic are long gone, it is very difficult to justify holding two races on the same track only two weeks apart. As much as the contracts signed with the various television operators must be honoured, a more original solution should be sought to a problem that has been generated at home.

None of this is good if we take into account the current context, in which the heads of Liberty Media, who in a few months should materialise the purchase of Dorna, will be supervising the whole operation. They, who in April 2024 already announced the 2025 Formula 1 calendar, must be amazed that the MotoGP world championship has not yet finalised this year's calendar, which will end in four months' time.

GRAND PRIX OF KAZAKHSTAN POSTPONED UNTIL LATER 2024

 The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports announce that the Grand Prix of Kazakhstan has been postponed until later in 2024

The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports announce that the Grand Prix of Kazakhstan has been postponed until later in 2024.

Unprecedented weather conditions have led to flooding across Central Asia, causing a national emergency in Kazakhstan and displacing much of the population. It would not be responsible for MotoGP™ to add any additional burden on the authorities or services as they work to help the tens of thousands of people affected across the country.

Sokol International Racetrack will therefore not host MotoGP™ on the dates previously announced, and any further updates will be published once confirmed.

As our utmost priority, MotoGP™ sends our condolences and support to the people of Kazakhstan and all those affected by the flooding in Central Asia. We hope the nation, region and communities affected can recover as soon as possible.

- MotoGP.com