MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Joan Mir has been handed a penalty ahead of the 2026 Spanish MotoGP at Jerez after failing to comply with black-and-orange flag instructions during final practice.
The Honda HRC rider crashed in wet conditions, sustaining visible damage to his bike’s bodywork. Despite the damage, Mir rejoined the track and continued circulating back to the pits while race marshals displayed the warning flag.
The black flag with an orange disk is a critical safety signal indicating that a rider’s machine has a technical issue that could endanger themselves or others. Under regulations set by the FIM, riders must immediately leave the track when this flag is shown.
In its official statement, the MotoGP Stewards emphasized that all riders are required to obey flag signals, light signals, pit boards, and dashboard messages issued by Race Direction without exception.
As a consequence of the infringement, Mir has been given a double long lap penalty for Sunday’s race. The sanction adds a significant strategic disadvantage, particularly as he is set to start from 14th position on the grid.
Mir becomes the second rider to carry a penalty into the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. Earlier, Jorge Martin was handed a three-place grid drop for riding slowly and impeding Alex Marquez during Friday practice.
From a regulatory perspective, the incident underlines the importance of strict compliance with safety procedures, especially in variable track conditions. Continuing on track with a damaged machine increases the risk of further incidents.
Heading into race day at Jerez, the penalty is expected to play a decisive role in Mir’s race execution, particularly in his efforts to recover positions from a compromised starting position.
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