MotoGP star Álex Márquez has called for a review of starting procedures after the chaotic grid situation at the Grand Prix of The Americas in Austin.
The BK8 Gresini Racing rider, who finished second in the race and now leads the championship standings, expressed his frustration over the lack of clarity in the rules governing last-minute tire changes.
The controversy erupted when Marc Márquez, who had secured pole position, suddenly dashed off the grid to swap his wet tires for slicks in the pit lane. His unexpected move triggered a domino effect, with several other riders, including Álex Márquez, following suit. The confusion led to Race Direction issuing a red flag, delaying the start of the race.
“It was absolute chaos for everyone,” Álex Márquez said in his post-race press conference. “We need a clear rule for situations like this because, right now, it’s not obvious what we can and cannot do. I saw people running, and I followed them – that’s it.”
The Spanish rider emphasized the need for MotoGP to establish clearer regulations, particularly in scenarios involving changing weather conditions. He criticized the decision to red-flag the race, arguing that it created an unfair advantage for those who had initially made the wrong tire choice.
“It’s unfair to those who took the risk from the start,” Márquez explained. “If you gamble on slicks and the race is then restarted, it nullifies the advantage of making the right decision. Imagine if I had started on slicks from the beginning – why should those who didn’t still get a second chance?”
His frustration was echoed by other figures in the paddock, including Trackhouse Racing boss Davide Brivio, who lamented that his rider Ai Ogura lost a significant strategic advantage due to the rule confusion. Other riders such as Enea Bastianini and Brad Binder, who had also opted for slick tires from the outset, were similarly affected.
Under the current MotoGP regulations, a rider who switches bikes after the sighting lap due to weather conditions is required to start from the pit lane and serve a ride-through penalty. However, the red flag in Austin resulted in a complete restart, throwing the fairness of the rule’s application into question.
Despite securing an impressive second-place finish, Álex Márquez remains adamant that MotoGP needs to avoid a repeat of the incident. “The rules need to be crystal clear. This situation can’t happen again,” he concluded.
With MotoGP and Dorna Sports now under pressure to reassess the regulations, a review is expected before the next round in Qatar. The goal will be to ensure greater consistency and fairness in race-start procedures, preventing a repeat of the grid chaos witnessed in Austin.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
