UPDATE: The reason Marc Marquez wasn’t punished for unzipped leathers
Fresh information reveals why Marc Marquez wasn't penalised
Marc Marquez escaped a penalty at the Thailand MotoGP despite his leathers becoming unzipped.
“The suit opened I think in the crash when the airbag deployed,” Marquez explained after he remounted from an early fall to finish 11th.
Onboard footage showed that the safety clasp, at the top of his leathers, popped open after he rejoined the race.
But FIM stewards opted not to punish Marquez despite the rules stating that safety equipment must be correctly worn at all times.
Crash.net have exclusively been told by a Dorna spokesperson that discretion can be applied with issues of this type, because they can include variables.
For instance, if it was deemed that Marquez did not have enough time to react, then the stewards are within their rights not to punish him.
So, because Marquez crashed then remounted, causing damage to the safety clasp on his leathers, it seems the stewards applied discretion with their decision not to punish him.
On Thursday ahead of the Malaysian GP, the stewards issued a revised report from last Sunday's Thai GP, further explaining the Marquez incident.
It backs up Dorna's explanation that Marquez did not have time to react, as the message he was given by the stewards wasn't until the final lap.
The stewards panel statement reads: “We were made aware of the gear malfunction with two laps to go. Our protocol then is to verify the issue with the riders gear through video images, which we did.
"Once confirmed through those images we immediately sent an “equipment warning” message to the riders dashboard display, which by this time was late during the last lap.
"That message was received 17 seconds before he crossed the finish line. At this the rider crossed the finish line and the message is replaced with the chequered flag on the display.”
What do the rules say?
Article 2.4.5.2 of the FIM MotoGP rulebook, under the Rider’s Safety Equipment subheading, is as follows:
“It is compulsory that each contracted rider must begin each race event with at least two complete sets of undamaged safety equipment.
“A complete set of safety equipment shall contain:
- Helmet
- Leather Suit, 1-piece
- Gloves
- Boots
- Back Protector
- Chest Protector
“The equipment must be worn, correctly fastened, at all times during on-track activity. In certain cases (for example the Airbag system) the equipment must be present and functional at least at the start of each track session. The decision of the Technical Director is final in matters of rider equipment.”
Has anyone else been punished?
Fabio Quartararo was hit with a three-second time penalty at the 2021 Catalan GP when his leathers unzipped, and he discarded his chest protector.
This contravened Article 2.4.5.2.
Quartararo later admitted the penalty was warranted.
Last year in India, Jorge Martin's leathers became briefly unzipped.
Martin was able to zip them back up, and was not penalised.
