After a confusing and dramatic start at the Americas Grand Prix in Austin, it is finally time to sit down and think about the rules. And on Thursday, April 24 in Jerez, the officials and teams are meeting in order to agree on clearer and simpler procedures to avoid what many called the most bizarre moment in recent MotoGP history.

If you don’t remember what happened, here’s a quick summary. The whole thing kicked off when Marc Marquez made a last-second decision to ditch his wet-weather bike and switch to a dry setup just a few minutes before the warm-up. This unexpected move started a chain reaction, as the majority of other riders did the same, sprinting into the pits and creating a chaotic scene that forced race officials to red-flag the start.

Normally, such a late switch would have earned Marquez and the others a ride-through penalty. But because the race had to be restarted for safety reasons, those penalties were erased.

Yet not everyone was so lucky. Riders like Ai Ogura, Enea Bastianini, and Brad Binder had gambled to start on slick tyres from the beginning. But their risk went unrewarded, as the restart allowed everyone to adjust their setup at no cost.

This incident sparked conversation — and more importantly, it exposed a deeper issue: the rules were too complex, and even experienced riders and teams didn’t fully understand them.

That’s why MotoGP race director Mike Webb admitted the following after the race: “What happened in Austin was a first, and while we managed to respond, it showed us that we need to make the rules simpler and clearer for everyone involved.”

Since then, there has been a push to fix the problem quickly. These talks began during the last round in Qatar, where teams sat down with MotoGP promoter Dorna and the International Road-Race Teams’ Association (IRTA) to explore new ideas.

One idea that was discussed was a stricter penalty — such as a double long-lap punishment — for any rider who leaves the grid within three minutes of the warm-up lap. But others argued that this still isn’t strong enough to stop riders from gambling on late bike changes if the potential reward outweighs the risk.

But there is a sense of urgency to act now. Some team members even pushed for an immediate rule change in Qatar. But with so much at stake, most agreed to wait until the Jerez round to make their final call. So today’s meeting could lead to a new rule being implemented ahead of the French Grand Prix.

As MotoGP continues to evolve, so do the rules. And if Austin taught us anything, it’s that clear communication and common-sense regulations are just as important as speed.