The 2023 season has been plagued by stewarding controversies, most notably the Marc Marquez Portugal penalty debacle and numerous incidents at the Spanish GP.
Following the Jerez round, chief FIM steward and double 500cc world champion Freddie Spencer will meet with the riders for the first time in several years in Friday’s safety commission gathering at Le Mans to discuss what has happened so far this year.
Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia – who was frustrated at Jerez to have been asked to drop one position for what the stewards deemed was an aggressive overtake – hopes the riders will be able to gain a better understanding of penalty decisions in this meeting.
“I really hope to have the possibility to understand their point of view and to share our point of view,” Bagnaia said when asked by Autosport what he hoped to gain from the meeting.
“This one could be already a good step, because in this moment, personally I’m not understanding their point of view.”
Fabio Quartararo – who was given a long lap penalty at Jerez for a collision with Miguel Oliveira in the grand prix which many felt was purely a racing incident – was more blunt in his response, stating: “I just expect them to do their work.”
Source: Autosport