Ducati duo Marquez and Bagnaia laud MotoGP stewarding under Crafar

Ducati factory riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia are happy with the way MotoGP stewarding has evolved under Simon Crafar in 2025.

Each was summoned to race direction following their contact early in last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. The purpose, however, was discussion rather than sanction.

“For me and for the stewards it was a racing incident, but they wanted to ask what the situation was,” said Bagnaia ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.

Asked if discussions of this nature were a positive development following Crafar taking up the chairmanship of the stewards panel this year, Bagnaia said: “Yes, I’ve always had a really great relationship with Simon. And compared with before, it looks like we can have a discussion before decisions.

“Before, you went there [to the stewards], had a discussion and then you got a penalty no matter what.

“So I think it’s much better now. Simon is more on the side of understanding before judging.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Tiziana Fabi / AFP via Getty Images

Marquez echoed his team-mate’s feelings when quizzed about the Mugello discussion at Assen on Thursday.

“Yes, I think that interactions are better,” said the Spaniard. “Because this way, you start to know the situation.

“Simon is new to that job. [So] for the riders, like this, you start to understand where the limits are. Because the steward is the referee. You can agree or disagree, you can say yes or no, but in the end, if you start to have these conversations, it’s a bit easier to understand for the future.

“So it was a constructive conversation, to understand what happens in every situation.

“But for me [the battle with Bagnaia was among] the best six laps of this year, because it was a very nice fight [within] the team.”

While the approach to the Marquez/Bagnaia contact has been well received, some believe the stewards let Franco Morbidelli get away too lightly for pushing Maverick Vinales out of the same race.

Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Morbidelli was issued with only a long lap penalty following the incident, which cost Vinales a possible podium position. The VR46 rider has been a multiple offender in recent months – he has already received two penalties for impeding other riders on timed laps this season – and is coming under increasing scrutiny for his track manners.

But the Roman refused to rise to any bait at his Assen media session on Thursday, in which he was asked if he needed to reconsider his approach.

“I don’t have space to think about whether I should take it easy,” he said. “I just race. I just do my thing.”