FIM scrap penalty point punishments

Motorcycling governing body the FIM have scrapped MotoGP’s punishments for amassing penalty points, in a controversial decision that looks to be a continuing part of the aftermath of the Sepang incident between Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi.

Previously, collecting four points saw a rider start from the back of the grid (a punishment handed to Valentino Rossi at the final race of 2015) and seven forced a pit lane start.

But under the new rules, the only punishment now handed out is a race ban when a rider collects ten points, at which point their points total resets to zero.

The sporting regulations have also been amended, seemingly in the aftermath of the Sepang collision, to allow the FIM to punish riders and teams who make statements “that are considered to be irresponsible and hence damaging to the Championship.”

The announcement also sets out a new structure for dealing with disciplinary action, with the steward’s panel now officially known as the ‘FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel,’ cited with dealing with issues deemed to be ambiguous and not factual. Anyone receiving a penalty from the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel may appeal to the FIM MotoGP Court of Appeal, which is required to hear and rule on any appeals within four days.