Many riders having driven at insufficient speed to wait for a good wheel during the free and qualifying sessions, the “FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel” envisaged an avalanche of penalties likely to shake up the starting grid.
As many spectators risked not understanding anything, these sanctions were limited to three drivers. Thus, Jorge Martín, who had set the best time in qualifying, received a twelve-place penalty on the grid for driving too slowly on three portions of the track.
John McPhee will therefore start from pole position. Manuel Pagliani (CIP) and Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia), initially 18th and 27th, are also affected by this sanction.
They are specifically accused of having driven in 3 sectors at a speed exceeding the 110% authorized limit. Each of the three was moved back 12 places on the grid, and Pagliani also received a fine of 300 euros for repeat offenses.
The new grid is not yet available.
Photo: John McPhee, now on pole (© motogp.com)
