The ruling and Aprilia’s objection
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola has explained why he disagrees with the decision not to penalise Marc Marquez following contact with Marco Bezzecchi in the Qatar MotoGP Sprint on November 7. Rivola believes Bezzecchi could not avoid the collision and that Marquez bore greater responsibility.
MotoGP’s official report describes Marquez running slightly wide while leading after the restart, with Bezzecchi attempting to use the opening on the inside. They made contact as Marquez returned to his line, and Bezzecchi crashed out. Marquez continued and won the Sprint. Bezzecchi went on to win Sunday’s Grand Prix on November 8.
Rivola argued that stewards should establish who was more at fault by considering which rider had been able to avoid the incident. In his view, Bezzecchi had no such opportunity and Marquez closed towards him.
That remains Aprilia’s position. MotoGP’s official Sprint report records the post-restart contact as a racing incident with no further action. Rivola’s remarks did not change that decision, and he said the team was not appealing, adding that such decisions were not subject to appeal.
A request to hear riders, and two separate incidents
Rivola also proposed hearing the riders after the Sprint before reaching a decision. At a crucial point in the season, and with a penalty potentially being served in the main race, he felt that discussion could help reach what he considered a fairer outcome.
He also cited Aprilia’s cornering performance and its ability to stay close to the racing line when explaining the contact.
A separate incident had caused the red flag on the opening lap of the original start. Fermin Aldeguer collided with Francesco Bagnaia at Turn 16, the final corner, and received a double Long Lap penalty. That crash and the later Bezzecchi-Marquez contact occurred in different phases and had different disciplinary outcomes.
