Marc Marquez will serve a penalty assessed by the MotoGP stewards at the third round in the United States following his injury-related withdrawal from the upcoming race in Argentina.
The MotoGP stewards were compelled to review the penalty they had given following Marc Marquez’s crash with Miguel Oliveira on the third lap of the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao on Sunday.
The Double Long Lap Penalty was first stated in the Stewards Notification to be served at this Sunday’s Grand Prix of Argentina at Termas de Rio Hondo.
Nonetheless, Marc Marquez fractured his right hand’s first metacarpal in the crash and after undergoing surgery, the Spaniard has made the decision to forgo the Argentina MotoGP round.
The stewards accused Marquez with “overly aggression” and “irresponsible riding” in their initial ruling following his crash with RNF rider Oliveira, who will also miss Argentina due to injuries.
If the Stewards Notice is strictly interpreted, Marquez would only be required to serve the punishment in Argentina. However, following the uproar that resulted and disagreements regarding the proper enforcement of penalties, the Stewards have now released a second Notification, making it clear that Marquez must serve the sanction either during the Sunday race in Argentina or the following Sunday grand prix he competes in.
“Considering the injury and non-participation of Marc Marquez, rider #93, at the Gran Premio Michelin de la Républica Argentina, and with a view to complying with the intention underlying the decision taken by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel, the double long lap penalty shall be served by the rider at the next MotoGP race in which he will be able to participate,” the updated stewards report read.
As a result of the sanction, Marquez will have to ride through a designated COTA safe point twice, each time riding a few seconds slower than the regular racing line.
