Yamaha hits out at MotoGP race stewards, claiming they are measured by “inconsistent, subjective standards “
Last Sunday, MotoGP said goodbye to the summer break. The events of the race in Assen, however, have a much longer lasting effect than expected. The focus of the discussions is Fabio Quartararo’s failed overtaking manoeuvre against Aleix Espargaro, which was penalised with a long-lap penalty.
After Yamaha Team Director Massimo Meregalli criticised the penalty and Quartararo himself responded with a sarcastic message (see story), Yamaha Race Director Lin Jarvis is now getting in on the act, lashing out at the MotoGP race commissaires.
“Quartararo has a reputation for being a clean rider with no history of incidents. It was an honest mistake with no malicious intent,” Jarvis is convinced. “Fabio Quartararo, the Yamaha MotoGP team and Yamaha have always strived for fairness and sportsmanship in MotoGP. We are disappointed with the inequality with which the MotoGP stewards are handing out the penalties. “
Yamaha “considers the incident to be a racing accident”, even though they recognised that “Aleix Espargaro’s race was affected”. Quartararo’s mistake forced Espargaro to swerve into the gravel and he dropped from 2nd to 15th position. In the course of the race, the Spaniard fought his way up to fourth position.
Yamaha accuses MotoGP race stewards
Yamaha can’t understand the long-lap penalty Quartararo faces at the next Grand Prix at Silverstone. “Yamaha believes that the MotoGP stewards panel measures the severity of racing incidents using inconsistent, subjective standards. “
Yamaha gets more specific: “The inconsistency with which the MotoGP Stewards Panel imposes penalties during the 2022 season is damaging fairness in MotoGP and confidence in the stewards’ jurisdiction.”
“There have been at least three other serious racing incidents in the MotoGP class that have not been punished,” the Yamaha race director notes.
No appeal and no appeal possible to CAS
“We wanted to appeal the decision of the stewards on Sunday in Assen, but this type of penalty is not open for discussion or appeal. Then we wanted to raise the matter in principle with CAS but again an appeal is not possible,” the Yamaha race director is annoyed.
Jarvis demands: “Precisely for these reasons, the sports commissioners should first and foremost make correct, balanced and consistent decisions that are executed within the correct and appropriate time frame. “
