Marco Bezzecchi issues formal apology after striking marshal at Czech Grand Prix

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Marco Bezzecchi has apologised on social media after receiving a race ban for hitting a marshal at the Czech Grand Prix.

Bezzecchi pushed the marshal and struck him in the face amid a dispute over the recovery of his Aprilia motorcycle. The championship leader had just crashed out of the Sprint race at Brno.

The FIM stewards subsequently threw Bezzecchi out of Sunday’s race for a breach of Article 3.3.2.2 of the regulations concerning actions ‘prejudicial to the interests of the sport’. Aprilia appealed, but this was rejected.

Marco Bezzecchi sorry to ‘entire MotoGP community’ after marshal incident

On Sunday morning, Bezzecchi released a statement on Instagram acknowledging that there was ‘no justification’ for what he did.

“I would like to apologise to the entire MotoGP community for my behaviour towards the trackside marshal,” the statement began.

“I’m also sorry because I know how much effort and sacrifice marshals make to ensure our safety.

“This behaviour shouldn’t happen and there is no justification for it. I apologise to everyone, Aprilia Racing and all my fans.”

• READ MORE: MotoGP fans fear Marco Bezzecchi ‘hasn’t learned anything’ from Francesco Bagnaia after Brno crash

Bezzecchi had been due to start Sunday’s race from fourth place, but he now risks a season-defining points swing. It will be his second consecutive non-score after Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin wiped him out at Balaton Park.

The Italian currently leads the standings by 15 points ahead of Martin, who must serve a double long-lap penalty on Sunday for that error in Hungary.

However, perhaps a greater concern is reigning champion Marc Marquez, who could make major inroads into the current 65-point deficit from fifth on the grid. Sprint winner Francesco Bagnaia is currently 69 behind Bezzecchi.

The last Grand Prix rider to be banned was Deniz Oncu, who had to sit out two Moto3 races in 2021 after his ‘irresponsible riding’ at the Americas GP led to a multi-bike accident.