If a MotoGP rider does not make it through the 14 Grand Prix with the permitted five or seven engines, severe penalties are due: Each additional engine is threatened with either a start from the pit lane (5 seconds after the start lights go out) or a «ride» through »penalty, a pit lane drive-through penalty.
The engine situation with the four Yamaha riders looks threatening. Since Rossi (race in Jerez-1), Viñales (FP3 at Jerez-2) and Morbidelli (race in Jerez-2) each complained about major engine damage, the two Yamaha teams are threatened with an engine shortage in the second half of the season.
Because in the meantime a package of faulty valve springs has been found that caused the defects. The already sealed engines equipped with these valve springs are not currently in use, they should be opened and converted with the permission of the other plants. However, the permission for this will probably only be given after the Styria GP.
An average of 500 km are covered per Grand Prix, the engines are usually taken out of allocation and overhauled after 2500 to 3000 km.
At the moment it is difficult to say whether Yamaha will get through the season with five engines per rider despite the engine damage. Because even a fall can cause irreparable engine damage – from fire or sucked in dirt.
But today it was leaked in Spielberg: Yamaha has withdrawn from the manufacturers’ association the request to be able to open the previously sealed engines and replace the valves. The Yamaha engineers are now convinced that the engines in Jerez only gave up because of the extreme heat (up to 42 degrees).
Manufacturers without privileges
Honda:
Alex Márquez (Repsol Honda): 2 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Marc Márquez / Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda): 2 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda): 2 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda): 2 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Ducati:
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Francesco Bagnaia / Michele Pirro (Pramac Ducati): 2 verplombt, 1 zurückgezogen
Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Ducati): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Ducati): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Yamaha:
Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha): 4 sealed, 1 withdrawn
Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha): 3 sealed, 1 withdrawn
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas SRT Yamaha): 4 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Franco Morbidelli (Petronas SRT Yamaha): 4 sealed, 1 withdrawn
Suzuki:
Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Manufacturers with «concessions»
KTM:
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Pol Espargaró (Red Bull KTM): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM): 2 sealed, 1 withdrawn
Miguel Oliveira (Tech 3 KTM): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Aprilia:
Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Gresini): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing Gresini): 3 sealed, 0 withdrawn
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