MotoGP: Penalties Never 'An Eye for an Eye', Says Steward Boss

MotoGP stewards' decisions often spark heated debates among fans, but Simon Crafar, chairman of the FIM MotoGP Stewards, insists that penalties are never about retaliation. If a rider ruins someone else's race, it doesn't mean their race should be ruined in return.

Crafar, a former racer and now a commentator, explained that incidents on the opening lap are judged more harshly because they can put multiple riders in danger. However, if it's a legitimate overtaking attempt that goes wrong, the first offense usually results in a long lap penalty.

According to him, the penalty is not about the consequence but about the action itself. "We can't wait for the doctor's report and then adjust the penalty. We're purely looking at the action itself. How big the mistake was, how bad the intentions were, and how dangerous it was," he said on the Crash.net podcast.

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Interestingly, Crafar also highlighted the stewards' role in defending riders involved in incidents. If a crash is deemed a racing incident—where both riders went for the same piece of track—then even if one suffers a serious injury, the other won't be penalized. "It's our job to defend the other rider involved, who probably feels pretty bad, but from our perspective, they were just racing," he explained.

Moreover, much of the stewards' work happens behind the scenes, including privately warning riders before their behavior crosses the line. This proactive approach aims to prevent incidents early, without waiting for severe penalties to be imposed.

With this system, MotoGP strives to maintain a balance between justice and competitive spirit. While not everyone will be satisfied, at least there is consistency in every decision made.