For the second weekend in a row, new MotoGP chief steward Simon Crafar has been in the spotlight, with multiple clashes during Saturday’s sprint race at the Argentine Grand Prix needing his attention.
And for the second weekend in a row, the 500cc grand prix winner has shown that he’s making a positive difference in the new job.
Having taken over from past world champion Freddie Spencer at the start of the season after five years of the American being in charge, it was always likely that we were going to see a different approach from Crafar compared to his predecessor - and the way in which he dealt with the sprint strongly suggests that it’s going to be one that punishes aggressive riding but not close racing.
Under Spencer’s stewardship, there were regular complaints from riders about the process as well as the penalties issued. Sanctions were often seen as inconsistent, and riders objected to penalties for what they saw as racing incidents even if contact was present.
Under Crafar, that called-for lenience appears to be the norm - as evidenced by his handling of the contact between Franco Morbidelli and Brad Binder.
👀 @bradbinder_33's day ended early after this moment with @FrankyMorbido12#ArgentinaGP 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/rtBYf6uAGh
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 15, 2025
Binder had lunged at Morbidelli at Turn 7 and they then collided as Morbidelli tried to retake position while Binder sought to return to the racing line.
The crash, which put Binder out on the spot but didn't materially compromise Morbidelli's race, was swiftly ruled a racing incident - a description Binder "pretty much" agreed with.
"I had a little slide on the rear coming out [of Turn 7], and I think that was enough for him to want to try to come back. And when I was cutting back, he was obviously there," said Binder.
"Nothing serious, to be honest.
"I mean, f**k, I’ve done it to people as well. Same old s**t, bud. Unfortunately when you’re [both] looking in one direction you don’t see each other.”
Morbidelli didn't comment on the clash, as he skipped his media session due to ongoing "nausea and headaches".
As someone with a less-than-clean record who has already visited Crafar this season and been sanctioned, he could've feared a penalty - but was let off in what was clearly the right call.
And the same could be said of the very precise handling of the incident between Fermin Aldeguer and Miguel Oliveira, for which a penalty was required.
Aldeuger had caused the crash by going into Turn 2 too hot and not being able to stop in time - and the resulting accident led to Oliveira requiring extensive medical checks (and a hospital trip) post-race.
An unlucky crash sent @_moliveira88 to the gravel and as a consequence @Aldeguer54 will have to serve a Long Lap Penalty 😔#ArgentinaGP 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/nZbXhb9kqJ
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 15, 2025
Those checks thankfully turned up no major injuries, and Oliveira was back at the track before the day was out.
Aldeguer took full blame in the aftermath - and a long-lap penalty was the expected outcome, but there were important caveats to how it was implemented.
I want to apologize to Miguel Oliveira and his team for the unfortunate outcome of our touch. I never intended to touch him or push him out on my overtake. I was very upset after finding out about his injuries. I honestly wish him a speedy recovery. @MotoGP
— Fermín Aldeguer Mengual (@Aldeguer54) March 15, 2025
Firstly, in a welcome change, previous references to ‘irresponsible’ riding seem to have disappeared from the stewards' rulings, this particular sanction instead accurately reflecting that a MotoGP rookie simply made a mistake rather than set out to do something stupid.
But more important was that, while Aldeguer had remained in the race after a collision, he was not assessed an in-race penalty - which would've been totally inconsequential, given he went on to finish 19th.
Instead, with the incident reviewed after the race rather than in-play like with Binder and Morbidelli, it means he’ll serve the sanction in Sunday’s main race, so his weekend will rightfully be materially affected.
Given the speed of the crash a long-lap penalty may appear lenient, but if so it is like that by design.
There have been whispers out of meetings between Crafar and the MotoGP/Moto2/Moto3 grids suggesting that his big focus will be on reining in repeat offenders rather than coming down harshly one-off mistakes.
