MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Franco Morbidelli has been penalised by MotoGP stewards following a technical incident during qualifying at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.
The VR46 Racing Team rider received a €1,000 fine and will miss the opening five minutes of practice at the upcoming Le Mans round after continuing to ride despite visible smoke coming from his Ducati.
According to the FIM MotoGP Stewards, Morbidelli was not shown the black-and-orange flag, which typically instructs a rider to stop due to a technical problem. However, video evidence confirmed that he was aware of the issue.
The stewards stated that regardless of flag signals, riders are responsible for reacting immediately to potential mechanical problems, particularly when safety could be compromised.
“During the Qualifying 1 session, you were observed identifying smoke from your machine and continuing on the racing line into pit lane. This contravenes specific instructions to MotoGP competitors and is considered irresponsible riding,” read the official statement.
The incident also impacted the session, as Qualifying 2 was delayed to allow marshals to inspect the track for any possible oil contamination.
Despite the penalty, Morbidelli went on to deliver a standout performance in the Jerez Sprint race, climbing from 18th on the grid to secure a podium finish in challenging wet conditions.
The case draws comparison to Joan Mir, who was penalised for a similar situation after rejoining with a damaged bike. However, Mir received a harsher double long lap penalty after ignoring direct black-and-orange flag signals.
The differing penalties highlight the importance of complying with marshal signals, as well as the rider’s responsibility to act proactively in the presence of technical issues for safety reasons.
Baca Juga
Alex Marquez pimpin sesi warm up MotoGP Jerez 2026, menguatkan status favorit jelang balapan utama hari Minggu.
Brad Binder ungkap kekecewaan setelah peluang menang Sprint Jerez 2026 hilang akibat crash saat strategi pit tepat.
Francesco Bagnaia jelaskan dampak hujan dan masalah grip di Sprint MotoGP Jerez 2026 usai finis kedua.
Lanjutkan dengan Google
Diskusi & Komentar (0)
Mari Bergabung dalam Diskusi!
Masuk dengan mudah untuk mulai memberikan komentar, membalas, dan berinteraksi dengan pembaca lainnya.
Komentar Terbaru
Belum ada komentar. Jadilah yang pertama!