In this article
Role and Purpose of the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel
The FIM MotoGP race stewards are officials who monitor every moment of action across a Grand Prix weekend. Operating under the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, the panel reviews competitor incidents, applies regulations, and issues penalties or sanctions. Their objective centres on upholding fair competition, consistency, and safety across practice, qualifying, Sprint, and race sessions on track, at trackside, and in the pit lane.
Panel Composition and Leadership
Former 500cc Grand Prix race winner Simon Crafar serves as Chairman of the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel, having led steward decisions since the start of the 2025 season. Crafar brought extensive technical experience from roles as an Öhlins suspension technician and motogp.com pit lane reporter before stepping into the officiating position. He succeeded MotoGP Legend Freddie Spencer, who served as Chairman from 2019 to 2024.
Working alongside the Chairman are two appointed stewards. For the 2026 season, continuing from 2025, the panel includes Spanish steward Andrés Somolinos and Slovenian steward Tamara Matko. These three members together assess competitor incidents and enforce the championship rules across every Grand Prix weekend.
Incidents Evaluated by the Stewards
The stewards review several types of incidents during each Grand Prix event. Their oversight includes monitoring irresponsible riding, contact between battling competitors, and crashes along with their causes. If a rider is involved in a collision or unfairly forces another competitor to lose time or positions, whether or not a crash occurs, they can be penalised for irresponsible riding.
The panel also monitors track layout compliance and course signalling. Stewards enforce penalties for specific track limits violations, corner or chicane shortcuts yielding an unfair advantage, pit lane infringements, ignored flags, and ignored penalties. Because prototype machinery regularly reaches 350 km/h in fierce battles between top motorcycle riders, clear adjudication and safety enforcement remain necessary.
Weekend Operations and Technology
Across practice, qualifying, Sprint, and race sessions, stewards sit together in a room equipped with monitors, computers, and communication devices. The panel has access to between 150 and 160 cameras, including trackside cameras and units on riders' bikes, using live feeds or replays to evaluate incidents in real time or after sessions finish.
Adjudication relies on technological tools including crash detection systems, GPS tracking, track limit sensors, and pit lane speed sensors. During live sessions, steward decisions are communicated to teams and Race Direction, who in turn can inform necessary parties such as trackside marshals, the Clerk of the Course, and live television producers.
Decision-Making Process and Evidence
To reach verdicts, stewards evaluate telemetry data sources, video footage, and information from Race Direction, while accounting for prior incidents involving the competitors. Each incident is assessed within its specific context, distinguishing between racing incidents and clear rider fault while maintaining consistency with established precedents. Stewards also often conduct hearings with riders and team representatives to gather complete accounts.
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Yellow Flags and Trackside Protocols
After a crash occurs, trackside marshals usually wave yellow flags immediately. A single yellow flag waved at a marshal post indicates danger ahead beside the track, and riders must slow down and proceed with caution. In practice and qualifying, a yellow flag automatically cancels a rider's lap time.
If a competitor ignores a yellow flag during a session, the stewards note the breach and investigate. When a rider passes another competitor under yellow flags during a race, stewards monitor the pass and will most likely instruct that rider to concede the position.
Available Penalties and Disciplinary Measures
MotoGP stewards can apply a range of penalties depending on the severity and context of an incident. Sanctions include warnings, grid penalties for future races, long lap penalties, time penalties, and ride-through penalties. In rarer circumstances, officials may require a rider to start from the pit lane or impose disqualification. Fines and championship points deductions can also be applied.
Specific infractions trigger defined consequences. Repeated track limits breaches, irresponsible riding, or failing to lose time after a shortcut can bring a Long Lap penalty. A jump start, serious incident, or repeat offence can bring a Double Long Lap penalty. Disregarding penalties can add time to race results, while repeated offences may lead to a ride-through penalty without stopping.
When Riders Can Be Penalised for Irresponsible Riding
Stewards hold discretion to impose the penalty they see fit based on incident severity. At the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, seven riders were caught up in an early Sprint incident at Turn 1. Stewards determined Jorge Martin had ridden irresponsibly, requiring him to serve a Long Lap penalty during the next Grand Prix he participated in.
During the 2026 season opener in Thailand, Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez battled across 13 laps in the Saturday Sprint. On the penultimate lap at Turn 12, Marquez contacted Acosta and ran him wide. Stewards quickly investigated and messaged Marquez's dashboard to drop one position. Marquez yielded at the final corner, allowing Acosta to secure his first Sprint win.
Stewards Panel Within MotoGP Governance
The FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations are established and updated by the Grand Prix Commission, comprising the FIM, IRTA, MSMA, and commercial rights holder MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group. Meanwhile, the Permanent Bureau, comprising MotoGP SEG CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and FIM President Jorge Viegas, confirms the structure of officials for MotoGP.
Race Direction includes Race Director Graham Webber, Deputy Race Director Jack Gorst, and Coordinator Mike Webb. They ensure track sessions operate securely according to regulations and determine whether a race must be red-flagged or can safely proceed. By contrast, the Stewards Panel focuses strictly on monitoring and judging race incidents, imposing penalties when infractions occur.
Appeals and Higher Judicial Bodies
Unless a sanction is given and served during a live race, riders and teams can appeal penalties, fines, or points deductions to the two-person FIM Appeal Stewards Panel from the Circuit Racing Commission. The Appeal Stewards may confirm or overturn a decision of the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel, or impose a different penalty according to regulations.
They can also refer the case to the Court of Appeal if dealing with it appears impossible for any valid reason.
If a party seeks to appeal beyond the Appeal Stewards, they can escalate the case to the FIM International Court of Appeal, known as the CAI (Cour Internationale d'Appel). Operating as the highest judicial body within the FIM structure, the Court gathers evidence, conducts a formal hearing, and issues a final ruling on the disputed incident.
