MotoGP manufacturers have urged race officials to establish a clearer and more consistent protocol following the controversy surrounding Francesco Bagnaia’s smoking Ducati during the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.
During the race, Bagnaia’s bike began emitting heavy smoke from the exhaust, leading many to believe it was about to fail or could pose a safety risk. Despite the clear smoke signals, race officials did not issue a black-and-orange mechanical warning flag — a rule that typically requires the rider to retire immediately.
Bagnaia was allowed to continue and went on to win the race, prompting criticism from rival teams who felt that the situation highlighted inconsistency in rule enforcement. Manufacturers now want the FIM and MotoGP stewards to introduce a transparent and standardized process for such technical issues to ensure fairness and safety across all teams in future races.