MotoGP sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta has defended race control’s handling of the chaotic Catalan Grand Prix, insisting officials followed the regulations correctly despite growing criticism over the decision to restart the race twice after serious crashes.
The Catalunya weekend was overshadowed by multiple heavy incidents that left riders injured and sparked debate throughout the paddock about whether the race should have continued.
The first major crash occurred when Pedro Acosta suffered a mechanical issue during the race, leaving Alex Marquez with little time to avoid contact. The incident resulted in Marquez being taken to hospital with fractures and forced race officials to stop the event with a red flag.
Later, a second restart also ended dramatically after Johann Zarco became involved in a frightening collision with Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini. Zarco suffered significant knee and leg injuries that will require surgery and an extended recovery period.
Despite the severity of both accidents, Ezpeleta maintained that race direction acted appropriately under MotoGP regulations.
“According to the rules, race direction and the FIM made the correct decisions,” Ezpeleta said while addressing the controversy surrounding the restarts.
He explained that both Marquez and Zarco were conscious and out of immediate danger following their crashes, which normally allows race procedures to continue under existing regulations.
Ezpeleta also rejected suggestions that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is unsafe for MotoGP competition, arguing that the crashes were caused by unfortunate racing circumstances rather than a fundamental issue with the track itself.
Still, the incidents have reignited wider discussions about rider safety and whether MotoGP should review its restart procedures after multiple serious accidents within the same event.
Several riders openly questioned the decision to continue racing. Pedro Acosta was among the most vocal critics, saying it felt wrong to “act as if nothing happened” after seeing fellow competitors hospitalized.
The controversy has also drawn strong reactions from fans, with many debating whether modern MotoGP should place greater emphasis on caution after repeated red flags and major crashes during a single race weekend.
While Ezpeleta acknowledged that MotoGP remains open to discussing possible improvements with teams and riders, he stressed that safety continues to be the championship’s top priority.
