MotoGP increases severity of penalty points system for 2014

Where this year riders were able to drop any accrued penalty points at the end of the racing season, the new system means points will stay on a rider's record for 365 days.

Had that rule applied over 2013, Marc Marquez would be spending the first half of his title defence with three points - one away from a grid penalty - on his licence following transgressions at Silverstone and Aragon.

The thresholds remain unaltered: any rider reaching four penalty points starts the next race from the back of the grid, while seven points lead to a pitlane start and 10 points a race ban.

A statement from the Grand Prix Commission said: "In 2013 any penalty points imposed were wiped from the record of the rider at the end of the season.

"From 2014 penalty points will remain on the record of the rider for 365 days, after which they will be cancelled.

"This means that a rider will have a rolling tally of penalty points with new points being added as incurred and points being deducted on their anniversary."

MotoGP introduced the penalty points structure ahead of this year's championship in a bid to improve the consistency of its officials.

MotoGP also clarified its regulations over the restarting of interrupted races, stating that from 2014 "restarted races that are interrupted after less than five laps are completed will be restarted again."

A maximum of two restarts will be permitted in Moto2 and Moto3, although race direction can authorise more than two restarts in MotoGP according to the circumstances of the race.