MotoGP riders face grid penalties for promotional absences, The Race reports

MotoGP riders can lose practice time or be moved back on the starting grid for repeatedly missing mandatory promotional activities, according to a confidential International Race Team Association email seen by The Race. The association sent the rules to teams on Friday, October 23, at the Australian Grand Prix.

The change extends sporting penalties beyond conduct on the track: The Race describes the championship stewards' previous sanctions role as limited to on-track matters. The email says repeated failures to attend made an escalation process necessary to ensure commitments to fans, commercial partners and event organisers are respected.

How the penalties escalate

A grid penalty moves a rider back from the starting position they would otherwise take. Together with the loss of practice time, it means repeated promotional absences can affect a rider’s preparation or race start, rather than bring only a financial penalty.

Which appearances count

The attendance rules cover the following activities:

• Thursday’s press conference.
• Pre-race promotional activities.
• Sunday morning’s riders' parade.
• Mandatory 10-minute attendance at autograph sessions or the Hero Walk fan event.

The email provides exceptions for injury, the need for medical attention and prior promotional commitments with a rider’s team. Arriving late or leaving early counts as failure to attend. Scheduled media appearances other than Thursday’s press conference are not on the list of events covered by these penalties, The Race reports.

The Marquez incident and upcoming changes

The Race interprets the policy as a possible response to reigning world champion Marc Marquez’s refusal to join a Sunday morning go-kart race at the Japanese Grand Prix earlier in October. That possible link is the outlet’s interpretation, rather than the email’s stated explanation for the rules.

Marquez said he needed ice for his injured right shoulder after warm-up and that a lookalike was sent to the kart race instead. He acknowledged the importance of the show but said competing for the championship had to remain his priority. The Race reports that series bosses reprimanded him.

For the Australian Grand Prix weekend, riders are scheduled to drive electric mini jeeps on track for the fan parade, according to The Race. Looking further ahead, rule changes announced earlier in October will remove Sunday’s warm-up session in 2027 to make more time for promotional activities.