MotoGP: Points withdrawn from Yamaha in the championship for violation of the rules - France 24

Valencia (Spain) (AFP)

Yamaha was stripped of a total of 50 points in the MotoGP Manufacturers 'World Championship for violation of engine regulations, but this sanction has no effect on the riders' classification, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) announced on Friday.

The Japanese manufacturer is criticized for not having requested the unanimous agreement of the Manufacturers' Association (MSMA) before making technical changes, as required by the regulations.

In addition to the 50 points taken from Yamaha in the constructors' standings, the factory team lost 20 and the SRT satellite team 37. This, however, has no effect on those obtained by the riders of the factory team Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi and on those of SRT Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli.

The manufacturers' ranking is modified as a result of Yamaha falling from first to third place behind Ducati and Suzuki while in the team standings, that of the Yamaha factory goes fifth behind KTM while SRT retains second place behind Suzuki but with a gap of 44 points instead of 7 before the sanction.

The FIM did not say what the exact reason for this sanction was, but the infringement dates back to the start of the season during the first races in July when the Yamaha suffered several engine failures.

Some of these would then have been sent to Japan to be dismantled and examined but without observing all the provisions which prohibit any modification on the engines during the championship.

This is a new blow for Yamaha before the European Grand Prix which is being run this weekend in Valencia because Valentino Rossi is not certain to participate due to positive tests for the coronavirus.

The seven-time Italian world champion, and field veteran, has already had to miss the last two races for the same reason.

Three rounds from the end of the championship, Frenchman Fabio Quartararo is 2nd 14 points behind Spaniard Joan Mir (Suzuki), Maverick Vinales 3rd (118 points), Franco Morbidelli 4th (112 points) and Valentino Rossi 15th (58 points) ).

© 2020 AFP