The MotoGP direction has issued an update regarding the pit lane entry rules ahead of the French Grand Prix, which will take place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, due to the controversy generated by Marc Márquez‘s action during the sprint race in Jerez.
The new document aims to prevent other riders from taking advantage of a regulatory loophole that allowed Márquez to avoid a penalty after executing a controversial maneuver under variable weather conditions.
During the sprint race, Márquez fell in turn 13 while he had decided to keep the slick tires, despite the increasing rain. After this, he waited for several riders to pass him before entering the pit to switch to the wet conditions bike. However, he accessed the pit lane by deviating from the usual route, entering beyond the outer white line.
Despite the unconventional action, he was not penalized as the current rules only prohibited crossing the solid line within the pit entry, not the outer line that Márquez crossed.
In order to close this loophole, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) has issued new instructions, establishing that to avoid corner cutting and dangerous maneuvers at the pit entrance, riders cannot go outside the painted curbs on the inside of the entry, and must remain within the solid white line located to the right of the pit entrance.
The new statement specifies that during races, violations will result in immediate penalties. Thus, those who use the asphalt inside the curb of the pit entry on the right or cross the white line after that curb will be automatically penalized.
Furthermore, it is important to highlight that these incidents will be considered immediate sanctions, as opposed to earlier violations, which were treated more like standard track limit infringements. However, the new approach still presents some ambiguities, especially regarding the opposite side of the pit entry, leaving open the possibility of interpretations that could benefit riders like Márquez.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
