Marco Bezzecchi has been handed a double long-lap penalty for causing the crash that took out newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez during last weekend’s Indonesian MotoGP.
The penalty will be served in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, following a delayed hearing by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel, which was postponed until Bezzecchi completed hospital checks after the crash.
Bezzecchi, who was in red-hot form after claiming pole position and the Sprint victory at Mandalika, saw his grand prix hopes collapse when he clipped the back of Marquez’s Ducati at Turn 8 on the opening lap.
The impact left Marquez with a coracoid fracture and ligament damage to his right shoulder, requiring surgery in Madrid. He will miss at least two rounds, with Ducati test rider Michele Pirro stepping in at Phillip Island.
The FIM Stewards deemed Bezzecchi guilty of “riding in an irresponsible manner causing a crash”, citing a breach of Article 1.21.2 of the MotoGP regulations. The decision was classified as a Type MGP-CC5 offence, defined as “actions creating a dangerous situation for multiple riders and/or causing a crash during the opening lap.”
As it was Bezzecchi’s second offence of the season, the appropriate punishment was a double long-lap penalty.
Bezzecchi took full responsibility, saying:
“Today I made a mistake and unfortunately I also involved Marc. I’m very sorry, I apologise to him and all his staff.”
Marquez, in turn, urged calm among fans:
“Please, no hard feelings towards Marco, nobody does it on purpose.”
Bezzecchi’s penalty comes as a major setback for Aprilia’s fight for second in the constructors’ standings and his personal bid for third in the riders’ championship.
