MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events

MotoGP plans to impose fines of €5,000 on riders who do not attend promotional events, according to reports. The presence of riders at such events and promotional activities is considered crucial for the series by the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group. The new rule comes into effect immediately, starting with a minimum attendance time requirement at the MotoGP Hero Walk at the Indonesian GP on Sunday.

This event allows fans to meet riders in a specific area of the circuit, take photos, and collect autographs. The event lasts 20 minutes, from 11:20 to 11:40, before the Moto3 race begins. Riders who fail to stay for at least 10 minutes will receive a fine of €5,000, which will increase for repeated offenses. Additionally, the championship may impose further sporting sanctions if riders continue to violate this rule.

This decision follows recent instances of riders, such as Marc Marquez and Aleix Espargaro, not attending certain events, including a kart race ahead of the Japanese GP and a promotional event, respectively. The MotoGP Hero Walk, introduced in 2023, has seen riders increasingly cutting short their attendance, prompting the new penalties.