FIM Announces Ban on Trackside Engine Restarts in MotoGP and Other Championships Starting 2026
Geneva, Switzerland – January 12, 2026
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has introduced a significant safety update to its regulations, prohibiting trackside engine restarts following crashes or technical issues in MotoGP, World Superbike (WorldSBK), and all other FIM-sanctioned circuit racing events, effective from the 2026 season.
According to the directive issued by the FIM, any motorcycle that stops running after a crash must be immediately moved behind the first line of trackside protection by marshals. Restarts are not permitted on the track or in run-off areas; instead, the bike must be relocated to a service road or an equivalent safe, protected area where assistance can be provided. This rule applies across all sessions, including practice, qualifying, and races, and extends to championships such as the Endurance World Championship.
The primary objective of the change is to enhance safety by reducing the time riders and marshals spend in potentially hazardous run-off zones during live sessions, thereby minimizing risks to all personnel involved. The FIM’s communication, distributed via an official letter to stakeholders including national federations, race organizers, teams through the International Road-Racing Teams Association (IRTA), promoters, and circuit officials, emphasizes harmonizing this protocol across all its circuit racing commissions to prioritize marshal safety.
While the full 2026 regulations are yet to be published, this update was approved by the Grand Prix Commission and Superbike Commission in November 2025. It draws parallels to existing rules in the British Superbike Championship (BSB), where remounting after any crash has been prohibited since 2012, though the FIM’s version allows restarts once the bike is in a secure location.
The directive acknowledges potential initial challenges in implementation but underscores its importance in safeguarding trackside workers. As of now, no dedicated public press release appears on the official FIM or MotoGP websites, with the update communicated through internal channels and reported by motorsport media outlets.
A notable observation in the MotoGP community is that riders like Marc Márquez have long employed a technique in low-speed crashes, particularly lowsides, where they attempt to maintain contact with the handlebars and pull in the clutch to prevent the engine from stalling. This allows the bike to remain running (or easier to restart) if the rider can remount quickly. In slower crashes where Márquez (or others with similar habits) stays attached to the bike and keeps the engine alive, the new rule will still require the motorcycle to be moved to a safer area before any restart attempt, potentially reducing the time advantage previously gained from such recoveries. In higher-speed or more violent incidents, the engine typically cuts out via the kill switch in the IMU regardless, making the technique irrelevant.
Reactions within the racing community have been varied, with some praising the move as a proactive safety measure, while others question its impact on race dynamics. The FIM has encouraged national federations to adopt similar protocols in their domestic series to align with international standards.
We reached out FIM Asia President Stephan Macky Carapiet for more information: Further details on the 2026 rulebook and its coverage in FIM sanctioned Asian races are expected soon, as preparations for the upcoming season continue.
