When a MotoGP™ race is red flagged, it means the race is stopped immediately on safety grounds.
The objective of a red flag in MotoGP™ is to bring the race to a halt as quickly and safely as possible, in order to ensure the safety of the riders on track, and is a decision that is taken by Race Direction. In some instances the race will then be declared finished, or may be restarted, depending on how much of the race distance was completed and other contributing factors.
In this article we’ll look at the different scenarios that can cause a red flag in MotoGP™, the procedure around its deployment, what happens once it has been waved and how red flags affect MotoGP™ race results.
What does a red flag mean in MotoGP™? Safety protocols explained
The deployment of the red flag during a MotoGP™ race, practice or qualifying session means that the track has been declared unsafe to continue at the current time, and that riders must slow down immediately and return to pit lane carefully and in a safe manner.
The red flag is used when Race Direction deems track conditions have been compromised to such an extent that there is an immediate risk to rider safety.
There are various circumstances that can lead to a red flag:
Severe weather conditions
In the case of weather conditions becoming so extreme that they affect the track surface or the riders' ability to ride safely, then a red flag may be waved.
The factors that influence whether there is a MotoGP™ race restart are detailed in the section below.
Dangerous track surface
Oil or debris on the track which creates an unsafe situation can result in a MotoGP™ race stoppage. An example of this was the Moto2™ race at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2010, when an oil patch on the track caused multiple riders to crash, bringing out the red flag. The race was later restarted and run for 17 laps.
Crashes
Unfortunately there are occasions where a race needs to be stopped by a red flag when a crash involving multiple riders has occurred, and the only safe way for them to be attended to is by stopping the on-track action.
The decision to red flag a race is not taken lightly but safety always takes precedence.
Red flag procedures in MotoGP™: What happens next?
Riders must return to pit lane with their bikes within five minutes of the red flag being issued.
In the meantime, Race Direction will assess the situation and decide whether the race is to be declared a result, or if it needs to be restarted or cancelled according to the following considerations.
Factors influencing a race restart
|
Number of laps completed (by the leader of the red-flagged race) |
Decision |
Action taken |
|
Less than three |
Race is null and void |
Completely new race is run
*If it is found impossible to re-start the race, then it will be declared cancelled and the race will not count for the Championship |
|
Three laps or more, but:
Less than three-quarters of the race distance (in MotoGP™) Less than two-thirds of the race distance (in Moto2™, Moto3™)
|
Race is incomplete and results do not count |
Race will be restarted
*If it is found impossible to restart the race, then the results will count and Championship points will be awarded as follows: • Completed less than 50% of original race distance = half points • Completed 50% or more of original race distance = full points
|
|
Three-quarters or more of the race distance (in MotoGP™) Two-thirds or more of the race distance (in Moto2™, Moto3™) |
Race is complete |
Full Championship points awarded |
Conditions applied to a race restart
The conditions of a MotoGP™ race restart, including which riders may restart, number of laps to be run and grid positions, are as follows:
|
Number of laps completed (by the leader of the red-flagged race) |
Who can restart? |
How many laps will the new race be? |
What will the grid positions be? |
|
Less than three |
All riders may start, including riders who may not have completed the sighting or warm up lap for the original start |
In MotoGP™: One lap less than the original race distance In Moto2™ and Moto3™: Two-thirds of the original race distance rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps |
As per the original race |
|
Three laps or more, but:
Less than three-quarters of the race distance (in MotoGP™) Less than two-thirds of the race distance (in Moto2™, Moto3™)
|
Only riders who are classified as finishers in the first race |
In MotoGP™: The number of laps required to complete the original race distance with a minimum of 5 laps In Moto2™ and Moto3™: The number of laps required to complete two-thirds of the original race distance rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps, with a minimum of 5 laps
|
The grid position will be based on the finishing order of the first race:
Riders who are classified 1 full lap down (having been lapped by the race leader) in the first race will start the restarted race from Pit Lane
Riders who are classified 2 or more full laps down (having been lapped more than once by the race leader) in the first race will not be eligible to restart |
It is also important to note that any penalty from the first part of the race (which was red flagged) that hasn’t been served yet will be carried over to the restarted race and must be served in the restarted race.
Historical examples of red-flagged races
There have been some notable examples of MotoGP™ red-flagged races throughout the sport’s history.
Into the final part of the 2023 season, the Japanese GP threw up a dramatic race as heavy rain brought out the red flag after 12 laps – which was 50% of the 24-lap race distance.
With less than three-quarters of the race completed, a restart would have taken place but conditions failed to improve. With the 50% criteria just met, full Championship points were awarded, bringing Jorge Martin to within three points of championship leader Francesco Bagnaia with six rounds remaining. The way both held their nerve made it a notable day too!
In a more dramatic red flag due to a crash, the 2023 Catalan GP is a key example. Bagnaia bolted off the start and then high-sided out of Turn 2. Meanwhile, in the gap behind him, a multi-rider crash took place at Turn 1 too. Either could have been a red flag but both was definitely a situation that required it, and the race was stopped immediately. Bagnaia headed to the medical centre for a check and didn’t make the restart, but he did make the next round and still managed to retain his crown.
Rider and team strategies for red-flagged races
A red flag can affect a rider’s approach to the restarted race significantly, depending on a number of factors.
If the race has been red flagged due to weather, the approach to the second race can depend on whether there is an improvement in conditions or not. For example, if the race started dry, was then red flagged due to rain, and is then restarted in wet conditions, a rider and their team will switch to wet-weather tyres and bike set-up for the second race.
Another scenario can be where a race is restarted for a much shorter number of laps, and this can see riders and their teams adopt a very different approach to tyre selection, bike set-up and race tactics, often going for more daring and aggressive options in the hope of making an impact in what will be a much more frantic, intense and compacted second race.
Want to know more about more MotoGP™ rules? Explore our comprehensive Rules & Regulations section for expert insights and detailed explanations.