Watch: Marco Bezzecchi suspended for marshal incident in Brno MotoGP Sprint

Marco Bezzecchi’s Saturday at the Brno MotoGP has got a lot worse after the world championship leader was suspended from Sunday's Czech Grand Prix for an altercation with marshals in the Sprint.

The incident, not broadcast on the live TV coverage, occurred while marshals were recovering Bezzecchi’s fallen Aprilia from the Turn 3 gravel trap with two laps to go.

As the bike was being lifted, one of the marshals appeared to accidentally twist the throttle of the RS-GP, causing the engine to rev.

Bezzecchi, fearing damage to the engine, runs over.

However, Bezzecchi then "pushed and struck circuit Marshals who were trying to recover your machine." 

The Italian appears to lash out twice, once when he arrives at the bike and again after closing what sounds like a partially stuck/damaged throttle and switching off the RS-GP's engine.

The second 'slap' was probably the most costly in terms of Bezzecchi's Czech Grand Prix participation.

"I just picked it up," a marshal can be heard saying via the on-board camera.

Bezzecchi then walked away.

With his advantage over team-mate Jorge Martin already reduced to 15-points, Bezzecchi could lose the world championship lead on Sunday.

An appeal against his suspension was rejected.

Bezzecchi, who was previously fined for pushing a marshal at Valencia in 2022, apologised to the Brno marshal on Sunday morning.

"You pushed and struck circuit Marshals"

A statement from the FIM MotoGP Stewards read:

Motive
'On 20th June 2026, at 16:07:41 during the MotoGP Sprint of the MONSTER ENERGY GRAND PRIX OF CZECHIA, following a crash you pushed and struck circuit Marshals who were trying to recover your machine.

'This is an action prejudicial to the interests of the sport and is therefore an infringement as described in Article 3.3.2.2 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations “any corrupt or fraudulent act, or any action prejudicial to the interests of the meetings or of the sport, carried out by a person or a group of persons occurring during an event”

Sanction
'For the above reasons the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards Panel has imposed upon you a suspension from the MONSTER ENERGY GRAND PRIX OF CZECHIA. (in accordance with articles 3.2.1 and 3.3.2.3 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations)'

Late race crash handed five points to Martin

Bezzecchi was on course to increase his title lead over team-mate Jorge Martin until the late accident - his fourth in a Sprint this season.

Martin then inherited Bezzecchi's fifth place and gained five points on the Italian.

With Bezzecchi, who qualified in fourth place, out of the grand prix, Martin will now move up to ninth on Sunday's grid, but must also serve two long lap penalties for causing a Turn 1 crash in Hungary.

Others looking to take advantage of Bezzecchi's absence will be third in the standings, Fabio di Giannantonio (-36 points), plus Pedro Acosta (-48 points) and reigning champion Marc Marquez (-65 points).