Valentino Rossi said he was surprised by the severity of the punishment handed to Marco Bezzecchi after the MotoGP rider was suspended following an incident involving a track marshal during the Czech Republic Grand Prix Sprint Race at Brno.
Bezzecchi, who crashed during the Sprint Race, was accused of striking a marshal in the aftermath of the incident. FIM MotoGP stewards subsequently issued a race ban for the 2026 Czech Grand Prix, citing conduct violations and safety regulations.
The incident stemmed from a misunderstanding, with Bezzecchi believing the marshal had deliberately touched or interfered with his motorcycle, while the marshal later stated the contact was unintentional. Despite the confusion, stewards ruled that Bezzecchi’s reaction crossed the line, emphasizing that any form of physical aggression toward race personnel is not tolerated in MotoGP.
Rossi, Bezzecchi’s mentor, said he accepted that his rider had made a mistake but did not expect such a harsh penalty.
“I think Marco made a mistake, but honestly, I did not expect him not to be able to race,” Rossi told Crash.net on Monday. “But it is what it is,” he added.
The ruling stands out in a sport where penalties for on-track aggression are typically limited to fines or grid penalties when disputes involve fellow riders. However, incidents involving marshals or race officials are treated more severely under MotoGP regulations, with potential sanctions including suspensions or race bans.
Bezzecchi’s case adds to ongoing discussions in MotoGP about rider conduct, safety protocols and the boundaries of acceptable reactions in high-pressure racing environments.
