With debate ongoing over the incidents and outcomes from last weekend’s Portimao MotoGP, CryptoDATA RNF has come out fighting for a penalty review.

Marc Marquez was given a double long lap penalty for his part in Sunday’s collision which saw the Repsol Honda rider skittle out an unsuspecting Miguel Oliveira. The Portuguese, initially declared fit, is now set to miss Argentina Grand Prix following “further testing in his hometown where further damage has been revealed”.

A statement from Oliveira’s team didn’t hold back, describing the eight-time champions’s actions as “reckless and irresponsible racing” while calling for “harsher and severe penalties from the FIM Stewards”.
 


“MotoGP races, whether it be a sprint or main races, are high-speed and high-intensity, where every rider wants to win at all costs,” the RNF statement continued. “However, such aggressive behaviour can often lead to dire consequences, not only for the riders themselves but also for their fellow competitors.
 


“The incident at the recent race between Marc Marquez and Miguel Olivera should serve as a wake-up call for riders in MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. Thus, it is imperative that they are reminded of the severity of the punishment for any kind of reckless and irresponsible racing.
 


“CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team condemns such behaviour and strongly advocates for stricter penalties to deter future offenders including the team own riders. We urge the FIM Stewards to take quick and decisive action against such reckless riding, setting examples for the younger and upcoming riders in Moto3 and Moto2.
 


“We believe that safety is the top priority in any sport, and MotoGP must take necessary actions to ensure the safety of all its riders. We look forward to supporting the FIM Stewards in their ongoing efforts to develop a safer and more responsible racing environment.”

While Marquez’ penalty was initially limited to this weekend’s upcoming race - an event the Spaniard will miss due to surgery on his hand from the same incident - the FIM Stewards have since reworded the sanction accordingly, stating ‘the Double Long Lap Penalty shall be served by the Rider at the next MotoGP Race in which he will be able to participate.’

With both Marquez and Oliveira now confirmed out of action this weekend, this brings the mounting tally for missing premier class riders to four for just the second weekend of competition. Pol Espargaro and Enea Bastianini having already missed the inaugural Sunday action due to their respective Friday and Saturday incidents, with the GasGas rider suffering multiple injuries and set for jaw surgery later this week, while Bastianini recovers from a broken shoulder blade.