Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez’s antics during the Sprint race at the Spanish Grand Prix sparked debate around the rules in MotoGP, particularly when it comes to remounting the bike after a crash.
In 2026, MotoGP have changed the rules around riders restarting their machines after an accident. Before, they were able to get the bike going in the run-off area, whilst receiving assistance from track marshals.
Naturally, this sparked huge safety concerns during a live session. So, this season, the sport’s governing body have changed the rules around remounting the machines, but what are they and how do they work?
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When are riders allowed to get back on the bike after crashing?
With the new rules, MotoGP riders can rejoin a session after a crash if they can keep the engine running, or if the bike is restarted behind a trackside barrier on an escape road.
If the engine is cut off during a crash, the rules state that the bike will be taken ‘immediately’ by marshals behind ‘the first line of protection’. There, the bike can be restarted, preventing the risk of another rider crashing and causing a more serious situation.
Marshals may assist riders in pushing the machine in order to restart it. However, this is not permitted ‘trackside of the first line of protection’.
Similar to rules used in the British Superbike championship, it effectively means that a rider’s race is over the moment they fall from the bike in a high-speed crash. The engine is set to cut off the moment that happens.
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Why was Marc Marquez not penalised for his Sprint win at the Spanish Grand Prix?
The rules came into question at the Spanish Grand Prix after Marc Marquez clinched victory in the Sprint race. After qualifying in pole position, rain hit the track and riders scrambled to the pits to change to their wet bikes.
At turn 13, Marquez crashed, before remounting his bike and cutting across the track and into the pits. He would go on to win ahead of Ducati teammate Pecco Bagnaia.
Did Marc Marquez end his title hopes at Jerez or was it just a blip?
MotoGP did not penalise Marquez as he had kept his engine running, and it was ruled that he did not gain an advantage. He waited until he dropped to last place before cutting the track to the pits.
Bagnaia saw no issue with Marquez’s antics, but it did spark controversy over what the rules stipulate. MotoGP acknowledged that the rules need to be addressed after the Spaniard claimed victory after crashing in the race.
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