P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia back MotoGP’s new restart rule – but it means riders will try to hold on to fallen bikes for longer.
Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and factory Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia support MotoGP’s revised bike restart rule for the 2026 season. The rule aims to reduce the risk to track marshals by requiring fallen bikes with stalled engines to be moved to the service road for restart attempts. This change may prolong the time needed for riders to rejoin, but it eliminates situations where riders were reluctant to abandon their crashed bikes. The rule only applies when the engine is not running, allowing riders to continue if the engine remains active after a fall. Marquez and Bagnaia both agree that the new rule prioritizes safety, with Marquez emphasizing the importance of following the regulations for the well-being of everyone involved in the sport.
