Marco Bezzecchi banned from Czech GP for hitting…

Marco Bezzecchi will not be allowed to start Sunday’s Czech Grand Prix after MotoGP stewards penalised him for ‘pushing and striking’ a marshal in the sprint race.

The championship leader was running in fifth place when he crashed at Turn 3 on the penultimate lap of the Brno sprint.

After ending up in the gravel, Bezzecchi ran towards his hobbled Aprilia RS-GP and was seen assaulting a marshal who was recovering his bike, with the footage of the incident going viral on social media. He later walked away from the scene, registering his fifth retirement of the season.

The factory Aprilia rider was summoned for a meeting by the stewards on Saturday evening for his unsportmanlike behaviour.

After hearing from the Italian, the stewards decided to suspend him from the rest of the weekend.

“On 20th June 2026, at 16:07:41 during the MotoGP™ Sprint of the MONSTER ENERGY GRAND PRIX OF CZECHIA, following a crash you pushed and struck circuit Marshals who were trying to recover your machine,” read a statement.

“This is an action prejudicial to the interests of the sport and is therefore an infringement as described in Article 3.3.2.2 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations, any corrupt or fraudulent act, or any action prejudicial to the interests of the meetings or of the sport, carried out by a person or a group of persons occurring during an event”

“For the above reasons the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards Panel has imposed upon you a suspension from the MONSTER ENERGY GRAND PRIX OF CZECHIA. (in accordance with articles 3.2.1 and 3.3.2.3 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations).”

Marco Bezzecchi has lost his cool after his #CzechGP Sprint race crash 🥊#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/xjYjneUIBx
— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) June 20, 2026

Aprilia appealed the decision, with both team manager Paolo Bonora and motorsport boss Massimo Rivola appearing for the hearing on behalf of Bezzecchi.

However, the stewards panel led by ex-500cc rider Simon Crafar rejected the appeal and upheld the original decision.

In a lengthy statement, the stewards said: "The FIM Appeal Stewards have carefully considered the submissions made on behalf of the rider and the evidence presented, including video footage, official reports and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

"Whilst the Appeal Stewards recognise that riders involved in accidents may experience frustration, disappointment and MONSTER ENERGY GRAND PRIX OF CZECHIA 2026 heightened emotion immediately following an incident, such circumstances cannot excuse or justify physical aggression directed towards circuit personnel performing their official duties.

"Circuit marshals and other safety officials are fundamental to the safe conduct of motorcycle sport. They operate in hazardous environments, often placing themselves in close proximity to moving motorcycles and other dangers in order to protect competitors and facilitate the safe continuation of the event. The sport relies upon these officials carrying out their responsibilities without fear of intimidation, abuse or physical assault.

"The principles of sporting conduct require all participants to treat officials, marshals and volunteers with respect at all times. Any physical contact of an aggressive nature towards a circuit safety official represents a serious departure from those standards and undermines the mutual trust and respect upon which the safe operation of the Championship depends.

"The Appeal Stewards consider it particularly significant that the individuals involved were marshals actively engaged in the recovery of the rider’s machine following an accident. Such personnel were acting solely in the interests of rider safety, event safety and the orderly conduct of the competition.

"Physical aggression towards marshals is wholly unacceptable in professional motorsport and cannot be tolerated irrespective of the circumstances leading to the incident. Failure to respond appropriately to such conduct would risk sending the wrong message to competitors throughout the Championship and would be inconsistent with the obligation of the governing body to protect officials, volunteers and workers who contribute to the sport.

"Having regard to the seriousness of the conduct, the status of the persons involved as circuit safety officials, the need to uphold proper standards of behaviour and the need for both specific and general deterrence, the Appeal Stewards are satisfied that the Stewards Panel was entitled to conclude that the rider’s actions constituted an action prejudicial to the interests of the sport.

"The Appeal Stewards further conclude that the sanction imposed is proportionate to the seriousness of the infringement and falls within the reasonable range of penalties available to the Stewards Panel."

The ban comes as a major blow to Bezzecchi, whose championship lead over team-mate Jorge Martin had already been slashed to 15 points following a difficult half-distance race on Saturday.

The exclusion also hands a big opportunity to Aprilia's chief rival Ducati, which won the sprint race with factory rider Francesco Bagnaia.

VR6's Fabio di Giannantonio sits 36 points adrift of Bezzecchi in third place, with Marc Marquez closing within 65 points on the best of the factory Ducatis.