New rule, same winner: Marc Marquez’s Spanish GP Sprint victory stands

Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images

Under a previous MotoGP rule that was later revised, Marc Marquez’s Spanish Grand Prix sprint race victory would not have stood.

Marquez took the chequered flag at Jerez in a win that signalled what appeared to be a return to form for the six-time MotoGP champion.

However, the result wasn’t without its talking points, with Marquez having cut through pit lane to switch bikes after coming off earlier in the race.

Some riders came to Marquez’s defence after the sprint. Francesco Bagnaia was among those who spoke out, saying Marquez hadn’t broken any rules.

However, questions still remain over whether his win should have been allowed under the current regulations.

Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images

Pit lane rule dropped years ago, long before Marquez controversy

During The Race’s MotoGP podcast, journalist Simon Patterson shared that Guido Meda reached out to him, highlighting a change in the rulebook that had mostly gone unnoticed.

Meda pointed to the specific regulation stating that riders must use designated lanes to enter the pit lane, making it illegal to cross the white lines.

“What I don’t understand, and I haven’t been able to get an answer to this yet – why the rules that were in place around pit entry were removed from the MotoGP rule book a few years ago.

“Guido Meda, Italian MotoGP legendary commentator, messaged me yesterday night to say, ‘I found this, and I can’t figure out what year it was from. But entrance to the pit lane must be made only through the deceleration lane or designated area. Crossing the white lines while entering the pit lane is prohibited.’