Explained: MotoGP penalty protocol for the 2026 season

The FIM MotoGP Stewards Committee has printed its penalty protocol for the 2026 season on how varied incidents shall be judged.

The FIM MotoGP judging panel shall be re-headed by former racer and TV pundit Simon Craffer, who took over the position final 12 months.

For essentially the most half, Crafar’s stewards acquired reward from riders for his or her balanced strategy.

Forward of the 2026 Thai Grand Prix, this season’s penalty protocol doc has been launched.

Beneath is the whole clarification from the doc.

Gradual driving on the racing line

“Stewards have long-established protocols for sluggish on-line incidents, that are repeatedly mentioned with staff and rider security committees.

“Below present protocols, until there are clear extenuating circumstances, incidents in Q1 and Q2 that lead to a transparent drawback to a competitor will nearly all the time lead to a penalty.

“For a rider to qualify for Q2, the final 20 minutes of follow (for MotoGP) and the final 10 minutes of follow (for Moto2 and Moto3) shall be judged as properly.

“Related incidents that occurred throughout the early phases of FP1 and FP2 shall be evaluated on a case-by-case foundation.

“The rules in these instances are that riders will obtain a warning for the primary violation, however penalties shall be assessed and escalated for a number of violations throughout the season.

“This protocol is designed to punish critical infractions that have an effect on different riders, and to make sure that minor incidents that don’t have an effect on security or efficiency usually are not prioritized by riders or officers. Not all on-track incidents require stewards’ intervention and the main target is all the time on security, equity, consistency and customary sense.”

“Any incident that poses a safety situation shall be punished instantly and independently.

“The circumstances of an incident are not often precisely the identical. Subsequently, as all the time, the Stewards reserve the fitting to regulate the above protocols as essential to go well with the circumstances in distinctive instances.”

Incident in orbit

“Stewards have long-established procedures for incidents resulting in rider-to-rider contact and collisions, that are repeatedly mentioned with riders and groups at briefings, public hearings and security committees.

“If the stewards determine that the overtaking shouldn’t be overly bold, it is going to be thought of a racing incident and no penalty shall be imposed. This is applicable to all courses.”

“Incidents happen that contain shut racing or contact between riders. There may be all the time a line the place a passing transfer, together with a collision or contact, turns into too aggressive and may result in unfair positions being gained. Stewards will assessment these incidents and relying on their severity, riders might obtain a place penalty or an extended lap penalty.”

“For instance, a rider shall be penalized if the stewards contemplate an incident that ends in one other rider being faraway from the race to be too bold, and/or if there’s little or no chance of safely overtaking.

“The penalties for riders who repeat these violations throughout the season may be extreme.

For instance, a rider shall be given a extra extreme penalty if the judging panel deems that an incident that resulted in one other rider being faraway from the race was an unfair or harmful maneuver that precipitated a robust collision with no chance of secure overtaking.

“As a tenet, MotoGP and Moto2 riders will obtain a double lengthy lap penalty and Moto3 riders will obtain a double lengthy lap or pit lane begin.

“These penalties turn out to be much more extreme if the violation is repeated throughout the season.

“Stewards will deal with incidents extra harshly firstly of a race, significantly within the first flip and opening lap. As a tenet, all courses will obtain double lengthy lap penalties. And, as all the time, repeat violations throughout the season may end up in heavier penalties.”

“Yellow panels and flags are obligatory, forcing riders to decelerate and watch out throughout follow, however overtaking is prohibited throughout races. Collisions below yellow lights shall be thought of irresponsible and lack of due diligence and shall be penalized, though situations reminiscent of particles and oil on the monitor shall be taken into consideration.”

“Apply begins should be carried out in accordance with printed protocols and rules, and unsafe follow begins might lead to penalties.

“As a tenet, the usual penalties for unsafe follow begins are grid penalties or lengthy lap penalties.

“The circumstances of an incident are not often precisely the identical. Subsequently, as all the time, the Stewards reserve the fitting to regulate the above protocols as essential to go well with the circumstances in distinctive instances.”

impose a penalty

“The philosophy that FIM MotoGP Stewards follows when making use of penalties is that the penalty should be efficient and that the rider should serve the penalty on the subsequent occasion of the Championship wherein the rider participates, even within the subsequent season of the Championship.

“Nevertheless, if a rider doesn’t take part in or full the subsequent occasion on account of a subsequent unrelated harm or sickness, or different situation (not incurred within the penalized incident itself), the penalty shall be thought of served and won’t be postponed to a subsequent occasion. Canceled races is not going to be counted when figuring out the “subsequent occasion.”

“If for any cause particularly associated to the incident for which this penalty is imposed, a rider doesn’t take part within the relevant race (or dash) on the subsequent occasion, that penalty shall be enforced on the subsequent championship occasion wherein the rider participates.”

“Medical judgment is and should stay unbiased of disciplinary choices. This exception for unrelated diseases, accidents or issues is for 2 causes: Stewards contemplate lacking a race to be a heavier penalty than the penalty imposed (e.g. lengthy lap) and to keep away from conditions which have occurred up to now the place a rider begins a race injured for the only function of finishing a penalty, thereby endangering himself or others.”

Weight of penalty between courses

“For related violations, the Moto3 class, just like the MotoGP and Moto2 courses, will obtain harsher penalties. There are two causes for this.”

“One is to set a precedent for our younger riders and make sure that lots of them becoming a member of the Grand Prix paddock for the primary time are instilled with the driving requirements which are anticipated and required of them.

“Secondly, because of the nature of Moto3 racing, some penalties is not going to have an effect on a rider’s race as a lot as within the senior class.

“Penalties are given to affect a rider’s race and may act as a deterrent in opposition to fallacious conduct. Moto3 riders will subsequently obtain a harsher penalty to have the identical impression on their race as different penalties for intermediate and premier courses.”

MotoGP dash

“Following the precept that Sunday’s Grand Prix is ​​the principle race in MotoGP, nearly all disciplinary actions will happen in GP races reasonably than sprints.

“Nevertheless, the stewards might impose penalties for violations throughout the dash.”

Race.

“Penalties for monitor limits, soar begins and technical violations shall be imposed on the dash, however a number of totally different standards will apply, as detailed within the FIM MotoGP Laws.”