The decision made by MotoGP stewards not to take any further action regarding the collision between Miguel Oliveira and Fabio Quartararo at Mugello did not sit well with Quartararo. He expressed his disappointment and likened his conversation with the panel to talking to a wall. Quartararo was forced to retire from the race at Mugello after Oliveira’s aggressive move resulted in contact that saw both Oliveira and Quartararo crash. Unlike the incident between Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini, this incident seemed less like a typical racing incident. Quartararo made it clear that he did not want Oliveira to be penalized, but he was clearly unhappy with the process that led to Oliveira’s impunity. He criticized the stewards for their handling of the situation and emphasized the need for improvements in the system.
Quartararo’s frustration echoes the sentiments expressed by Johann Zarco a month ago, when he criticized the steward panel, led by former 500cc world champion Freddie Spencer, after his collision with Espargaro in Jerez. Like Quartararo, Zarco did not receive a penalty for the incident and Quartararo mentioned this during his outburst. Quartararo mentioned that many emails were sent by championship competitors expressing their lack of confidence in the current steward regime and the need for change. While the stewards seek the opinions of the riders, Quartararo feels that his opinions are not taken into consideration and that the system should be fair to all. He expressed his desire to have a meaningful conversation with the stewards, but felt that his words fell on deaf ears. Quartararo left the meeting feeling even more confused and called for the implementation of a more professional structure.
Quartararo is not the only MotoGP rider frustrated with the decisions of the stewards. Pecco Bagnaia also expressed his dissatisfaction with a three-grid penalty he received for obstructing Alex Marquez during Friday’s practice sessions. He referred to the penalty as a “clown penalty” and deemed it useless. Just a week before, Bagnaia’s teammate, Enea Bastianini, intentionally ignored a penalty during the race in Barcelona, suggesting it was a form of protest. These incidents highlight the growing discontent among MotoGP riders regarding the stewards’ decisions and the need for a fairer and more professional approach.
