As Motorsport.com reports, MotoGP is putting its foot down on rider attendance, introducing strict fines for anyone failing to put in the required time at promotional events. That is right: skip out on the fans, and you will pay for it.
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group views rider presence as vital for the championship's image, and growing frustration over repeated lack of commitment has forced their hand. Teams received an email on Saturday warning that the new penalties are active with immediate effect, starting right away with the Sunday 'MotoGP Hero Walk' at the Indonesian GP.
For those who need a reminder, the 'MotoGP Hero Walk' is a designated area in the Mandalika Pit Lane's VIP Village where paying fans get their chance at photos, autographs, and a quick word with the grid. Introduced back in 2023, the event happens every Sunday right after the 'Riders Parade' and runs for 20 minutes from 11:20 to 11:40 in the morning, just ahead of the Moto3 race. The problem? Riders have increasingly been cutting their time short.
Now, the rules are simple. The championship demands riders stay for at least 10 minutes, and anyone failing to meet that mark faces a €5,000 fine for a first offence, with penalties scaling up for repeat violations. It is a harsh reality for competitors facing blazing sun and stifling heat with temperatures above 30 degrees, conditions where some riders managed to put in the time to sign caps and T-shirts while others fell short and are now expected to be sanctioned.
While the circular sent to teams on Saturday focused strictly on Sunday morning activities, the championship made it clear that these measures could easily expand to other promotional dates. Beyond the wallet damage, future sporting sanctions—though not yet fully detailed—loom for anyone who makes a habit of dodging their duties.
To be clear, this is not just a knee-jerk reaction to recent headlines. The championship has been watching the situation closely for weeks, though the timing does follow a week after Marc Marquez sent a body double to a promotional kart race ahead of the Japanese GP, an event which Fabio Di Giannantonio also skipped.
