Present MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and Ducati manufacturing facility teammate Francesco Bagnaia have backed revisions to MotoGP’s bike restart guidelines for the 2026 season.
The brand new guidelines, launched to “decrease publicity to trace marshals”, will ban bikes from restarting on tracks or run-off areas after an accident.
As an alternative, the engine stalls and the downed machine have to be moved to a service highway earlier than it may be restarted.
Whereas this considerably will increase the time it takes for a fallen rider to recuperate, some could argue that pulling the bike out to the facet highway places marshals in danger for longer than pushing beginning ‘on the spot’.
Nevertheless, this may put an finish to conditions the place riders refuse to desert their crashed bikes even after a number of failed restart makes an attempt on the fringe of the circuit.
Importantly, rule adjustments solely apply when the engine is stopped. If a rider retains the engine working after a fall, they are going to be allowed to rejoin as earlier than.
“I agree, as a result of on the finish of the day it is a safer means,” Marc Marquez mentioned. “From what I’ve learn, that is provided that the engine quits. So for those who had a minor crash and the engine did not give up, you may rejoin.”
The nine-time world champion was visibly indignant after his accident throughout apply at Motegi final yr when marshals almost knocked him off his bike, including:
“It is true that it may be troublesome for the marshals, but when the principles say that in case your bike stops you may’t rejoin, then that is apparent. So it is higher for everybody.”
Marquez is known for recovering factors after crashes, most not too long ago at Jerez final season, the place he recovered to complete twelfth after an early fall.
Francesco Bagnaia, Crash, 2025 French MotoGP.
“It is necessary to maintain the engine working.”
“I believe it is a good change for security,” Francesco Bagnaia added, joking: “To be sincere, I have not had the identical luck as Marc. Each time I crash, my bike breaks!”
This highlights the potential unwanted side effects of this rule. For MotoGP riders, it’s going to turn out to be much more necessary to hold on to the bike to stop engine stalling within the occasion of an accident.
“I want to carry on to the bike extra,” Bagnaia admitted.
“However that is one thing I am making an attempt to be taught as a result of Marc clearly crashed like he did final yr in Jerez however was capable of begin once more to attain factors.
“You may’t push (begin) a motorbike that is stopped proper now. However you may push it if it is nonetheless beginning. So it is necessary to attempt to preserve[the engine]beginning.”
Retaining management when the bike slides off the observe will increase the rider’s danger of harm from the machine.
Alternatively, the regulation might additionally power groups to regulate their anti-stall methods to maintain their engines working longer when the bike is on their facet.
Nevertheless, this have to be balanced towards engine injury.
