Bezzecchi Suspended From Czech GP After Marshal Incident

Marco Bezzecchi was suspended from Sunday’s Czech Grand Prix after MotoGP stewards ruled that his conduct during Saturday’s sprint in Brno breached championship regulations and was prejudicial to the interests of the sport. The penalty ended his weekend before the main race.

The incident came after Bezzecchi crashed at Turn 3 while running fifth with fewer than two laps left in the sprint. Marshals were recovering his Aprilia from the gravel when, according to stewards, one marshal may have accidentally twisted the throttle and revved the bike. Stewards said Bezzecchi pushed marshals who were trying to move the motorcycle, and video showed him pushing and slapping a marshal. MotoGP held a stewards hearing on Saturday night and upheld the suspension, while Aprilia said it retained the right to appeal.

Bezzecchi entered Sunday leading Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin by 15 points, after the sprint added five points for Martin. Martin was also set to serve two long-lap penalties from the Balaton Park incident. Bezzecchi said he could not explain why he has been more competitive in Sunday races than in sprint races, noting four wins in eight Sunday races this season but only two sprint podiums and four sprint DNFs.