The controversy is served in MotoGP. The stewards of the FIM and MotoGP sanctioning body, Andrés Somolinos, Freddie Spencer and Tamara Matko, have decided that Marc Márquez will have to serve his penalty for the Portuguese GP in the next race in which he races, foreseeably in Austin, on the 16th of April.
Contrary to the clarification made on Monday by the FIM and Dorna, according to which the Cervera rider paid the penalty of the long-lap with his absence in the next Argentine GP, now the stewards have corrected themselves: Márquez will have to do two laps in the race for the extension of the track, to comply with the punishment for his “irresponsible driving” in Portimão, where he touched Jorge Martín and brought down Miguel Oliveira on lap 3 of the race.
“Regarding the decision made by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel on Sunday 03/26/2023 at 15:13, this body clarifies its decision regarding applicability. Considering the injury and non-participation of Marc Márquez, rider number 93 in the Argentine Grand Prix, and in order to comply with the intention underlying the decision made by the Commissioners Panel, the double Long-lap penalty will be served by the rider in the next MotoGP race in which he can participate.” .
So Márquez, if he runs in Austin, will have to pay a pledge there. What MotoGP and the FIM do not clarify is whether he will have to serve the sanction in the Sprint on Saturday or in the race on Sunday… That will be another chapter of controversy.
In principle, neither the FIM nor Dorna Sports consider Saturday’s Sprint a race, even though the riders follow the same procedure and also receive points and penalties as in Sunday’s test.
