Johann Zarco has been hit with a double long lap penalty for this afternoon’s Japanese Grand Prix after falling foul of MotoGP’s stringent new engine restart regulations. The incident occurred during Sunday morning’s warm-up session at the Motegi circuit following a crash for the Frenchman.
The FIM Stewards issued the penalty after observing Zarco attempting to manually restart his bike directly on the track at Turn 9. According to the stewards, the maneuver, which saw the machine facing in the opposite direction of the track flow, posed a significant safety risk to both Zarco and other riders circulating during the session.
The infringement centers on Article 1.21.4 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations, a new-for-2026 rule designed to minimize time spent by riders in “hot” areas of the circuit. The rules explicitly state that any motorcycle that becomes non-running due to a crash or technical issue must be immediately moved by marshals behind the “first line of protection”—typically the safety barriers.
Once behind this line, the rider is permitted to work on the machine alone, with marshals allowed to assist in lifting or holding the bike, and even helping to push-start the machine if it is safely within the service road. However, the regulations strictly forbid any attempts to push-start a motorcycle on the track side of the safety barrier.
In their official statement, the FIM Stewards emphasized the importance of rider compliance with these new safety measures: “During all track sessions… any motorcycle not running for any reason will immediately be taken by the marshals behind the safety barrier. No machines may be push-started track side of the first line of protection. No person other than marshals or riders are permitted on the track side of the first line of protection.”
Zarco, who finished the morning’s extended warm-up session in twelfth position, now faces a steep uphill battle for the Grand Prix. The double long lap penalty is a significant blow at a circuit like Motegi, where track position is vital and the penalty loop can be costly in terms of race time.
The Frenchman is not the only rider facing disciplinary action this weekend; Alex Marquez has also been handed a double long lap penalty for the main race. Marquez’s sanction stems from a multi-rider collision during the opening lap of Saturday’s Sprint race, which saw him held responsible for triggering a pile-up.
As the grid prepares for the start of the Japanese Grand Prix, the focus remains on whether Zarco’s penalty will significantly hamper his ability to challenge for points, and whether the strict enforcement of the 2026 restart rules will prompt other riders to exercise more caution when faced with mechanical failures on track.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
