MotoGP clarifies pitlane entry rules after Marc Marquez Jerez controversy

1 month ago 34

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MotoGP Race Direction issued a clarification to its pitlane entry regulations ahead of this weekend’s French Grand Prix at Circuit de la Sarthe following the controversy surrounding Marc Marquez’s actions during the Jerez sprint race.

The revised guidance is designed to prevent riders from exploiting the same grey area in the regulations that allowed Marquez to avoid a penalty in Spain after cutting into pitlane during changing weather conditions.

The factory Ducati rider crashed at Turn 13 during the sprint at Jerez after initially deciding to remain on slick tyres despite worsening rain in a flag-to-flag race.

After rejoining, Marquez waited for several riders to pass him before pitting for his wet-weather bike. However, instead of taking the conventional route into pitlane, he cut across the final corner and entered the lane beyond the outer white line rather than joining from the beginning of the entry road.

Despite the unusual manoeuvre, Marquez was not penalised because the wording of the race weekend bulletin distributed to teams only prohibited riders from crossing the continuous white line on the inside of pit entry — not the outer line used by Marquez.

Ahead of Le Mans, the FIM has now issued revised instructions to teams in an attempt to close that loophole, although some ambiguity still remains.

The updated bulletin states that, “to avoid cutting corners and dangerous riding on pit entry, riders must not ride outside the painted kerbs on the inside of the pit entry, and must stay inside the solid white line on the right-hand side of the pit entry."

Race Direction, Le Mans

It also specifies that, during races, infringements will result in penalties and that riders “using the asphalt inside the pit entry kerb on the right-hand side, and crossing the white line on the right-hand side after the kerb" will receive an immediate sanction.

The wording marks a significant shift from the instructions issued at Jerez, which referred more generally to respecting the white line on the inside of pit entry and exit.

Race Direction has also clarified that such incidents will now trigger immediate penalties rather than being treated as standard track-limits or shortcut violations - an important distinction given Marquez effectively lost time through his crash and subsequent pit entry, helping him avoid further punishment under the previous interpretation.

However, the revised guidance still focuses specifically on the right-hand side of pit entry and does not fully address what happens on the opposite side of the lane.

That means potential grey areas remain within the regulations, particularly regarding the distinction between the inner and outer sections of pit entry — the same loophole that ultimately worked in Marquez’s favour at Jerez.