MotoGP riders face penalties for missing promotional events

The Grand Prix Commission ruled on Friday that "sporting penalties", as well as the existing system of fines, could now be applied to riders who fail to attend commitments for media and fans.

A statement from governing body the FIM read: "A number of obligations for riders to participate in promotional activities, already contained in the participation agreements between IRTA and the teams, will now also be included in the grand prix regulations.

"Such obligations include the requirement for riders to participate in autograph signing sessions, press conferences, parade laps, etc.

"The effect is that non-compliance by riders can now result in sporting penalties in addition to the financial penalties contained in the participation agreements."

The nature of MotoGP's 2016 sporting penalties remains unclear.

FIM president Vito Ippolito revealed after Friday's meeting that the existing system of penalty points for infractions that add up to grid drops or even exclusions was under review.

That reconsideration is part of a wider look at MotoGP's penalty procedures following last year's Valentino Rossi/Marc Marquez controversies, with the GPC having already announced the creation of a new stewards' panel alongside race direction.