The crash during the opening lap between Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Márquez in Lombok continues to be talked about in the paddock, even now.

The incident, which happened during the Grand Prix of Indonesia, saw Bezzecchi’s Aprilia make contact with Márquez’s Ducati on the first lap, sending both riders off their bikes and ending Márquez’s race immediately. The newly crowned champion suffered a shoulder injury in the crash, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss the following rounds.

Because it was not possible for the FIM MotoGP Stewards to hold a hearing with Bezzecchi straight after the race in Indonesia, a meeting was arranged later, exactly on Thursday morning at Phillip Island, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix weekend.

After reviewing footage and listening to both Bezzecchi and representatives from Aprilia Racing Team, the Stewards decided that the Italian rider was responsible for causing the collision. As a result, Bezzecchi has been given a double Long Lap penalty, to be served during Sunday’s Grand Prix race. The punishment is more severe because it is his second offence of the season, following an earlier incident that also involved contact with another rider.

The Long Lap penalty requires a rider to take a longer route around a marked section of the circuit, costing several seconds each time it is served. So, a double penalty means Bezzecchi will have to complete this twice, making it a significant setback that could affect his race result on Sunday.

The Lap 1 collision in Lombok has created debate about aggressive riding in MotoGP, with some fans calling it a racing incident while others believe Bezzecchi’s move was too ambitious so early in the race. Whatever the opinion, the Stewards’ decision makes it clear that repeat offences will not be taken lightly as the championship nears its closing stages.