The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, underway in Jerez de la Frontera from 25 to 27 April, was the scene of a dispute that shook the MotoGP paddock. Four prominent drivers – Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Viñales – took a position in favor of maintaining the rigid rules on the pressure of the tires, despite the criticisms of irregularities that emerged after the Qatar GP. The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) responded with a five -words lapidary comment: “The rules protect, do not punish.” This statement, released during a pre-gara press conference, has rekindled the debate on a theme that is dividing pilots, teams and fans.
The rules on the pressure of the tires, introduced in 2023, impose a minimum pressure for the front and the rear, monitored in real time via Michelin sensors. The goal is to guarantee safety and uniformity, but the penalties for violations – such as the 16 second penalty inflicted in Viñales in Qatar for pressure less than the parameters – have generated discontent. At the Qatar GP, Viñales had arrived second, but the penalty relegated him to 14th place, promoting Bagnaia to the second and Morbidelli on the third. Another striking case was that of Marc Marquez in Thailand, where he deliberately ran to his brother Alex in the wake to warm the front rubber and return to the parameters, avoiding a penalty. These episodes raised suspicions of irregularities, with the international press that indicated Bagnaia among the pilots with non -compliant pressure on Jerez 2024, without however sanctions were applied.
During Thursday’s press conference in Jerez, Marquez defended the rules: “Without these rules, it would be chaos. Safety comes first, and the sensors force us to be precise.” Bagnaia, who in the past had minimized the accusations of irregularities, reiterated: “It is not easy to manage the pressure in the race, but the rules are the same for everyone. Eighteen pilots were out of the parameters at the beginning of the last season, nobody was penalized. Enough speculations.” Quartararo, often critical of technical innovations, has surprisingly supported the rule, underlining: “Yamaha struggles, but these rules level the field. I don’t want to be unfair advantages.” Viñales, still burned by the penalty in Qatar, added: “The rules are there, we must adapt. It is a question of strategy, not makeup.”
Fim’s response, “the rules protect, do not punish,” has been interpreted as a defense of transparency, but also as a warning to the teams trying to get around the parameters. Mike Webb, the race director, explained that the Michelin sensors, although not mandatory, provide a clear indication, and the teams must provide for pressure variations based on the track conditions. However, FIM’s comment raised contrasting reactions. On X, fans like @motofanatic have praised firmness, while others, such as @Racepulse, have accused the federation of hypocrisy, claiming that the penalties applied to discretion create confusion.
The controversy arrives in a crucial moment of the 2025 world championship. Marquez dominates the ranking with 123 points, followed by Alex Marquez at 105 and Bagnaia at 93 Jerez, where Bagnaia has won in the last three years, is a favorable track, but the dominion of Marquez, author of pole and victories in all races so far, makes the challenge arduous. Quartararo, sixth in the standings, is looking for a prestigious result, while Viñales, with Aprilia, aims to redeem himself after Martin’s accident in Qatar, who forced him to a physical recovery.
The debate on the pressure of the tires will not end up in Jerez. The teams continue to test solutions to optimize performance without breaking the rules, while pilots must balance speed and compliance. The Fim declaration, albeit synthetic, underlines the importance of a fair regulation in a sport where the details make the difference. With Sunday’s race broadcast on Sky Sport and TV8, the eyes will be focused not only on the track, but also on the strategies of the teams to navigate a regulatory system as rigid as it is controversial.
