Part of being a racer of any kind is the use of the racer as a marketing tool - specifically, as a face of the franchise. As such, riders in classes such as MotoGP have obligations like autograph signings to attend, and media events. Some embrace it (a certain Valentino Rossi comes to mind) and some dislike it enough to leave once they've reached the pinnacle of their craft (read 'Casey Stoner'.) But racing is serious business and involves a lot of money, not least for the FIM itself, and it has begun tightening the screws on such obligations.
The addition of the new rules was made at the beginning of the year and includes punishment for riders who made statements considered harmful to the championship - obviously a reference to how the allegations flew thick and fast near the end of the year. However, everyone has toed the line, but the FIM has decided to rap a few knuckles anyway. The factory Suzuki, Honda and Ducati teams were slapped with Euro 500, a warning and Euro 250 respectively because their riders did not show up in time for signings (Dovizioso, Iannone) or absent (Marquez, Espargaro). The Repsol Honda team was let off lightly because the current champion is fighting an illness.
The fines are merely symbolic for teams whose budgets all run into many millions of dollars, but it is a shot fired across the bows - don't hold your breath for wild allegations in the future!
