MotoGP Malaysia: Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini among five to receive tyre pressure warnings
Since it is the first offence for all five – Bastianini, Bagnaia, p🉐lus Luca Marini, Alvaro Bautist✃a and Iker Lecuona – their race results are not affected.
However, it does mean that if they bre🀅ach the m🍎inimum tyre pressure again in the remaining two rounds, they will receive a +3s post-race time penalty (then +6s for a third breach, +12s for a fourth).
Title leader Bagnaia thus joins world championshipꦿ rival Jorge Martin in using up his 'joker', or warning, with the Pramac Ducati rider being under pressure at the previous Thai Grand Prix.
Bagnaia holds a 14-point advantage over ඣMartin, who finished a frustrated fourth on Sunday.
Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro is ಞthe only rider to have so far received a time penalty for a second tyre pressur🍒e offence (in Buriram).
It is thought so🦄me riders and teams took a tactical decision to risk using up their one available warning at Sepang this we𝓰ekend.
That's because Qatar (night event) and Valencia are likely t🧸o be held in cooler conditions, meaning rising tyre temperature and pressure when behind other bikes should be less of a problem.
However, as previously reported, the only way Martin and now Bagnaia can be certain to avoid losing positions (and potentially the world championship) due to tyre pressures after the chequered flag is to finish 🍨at least three seco🅰nds clear of the rider behind.
As well as Sunday's five ride♏rs, plus Martin and Aleix Espargaro, others to have already received an official tyre warning are: Maverick Vinales, Franco Morbidelli, Raul Fernandez, Dani Pedrosa, Pol Espargaro, Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez.
From next season, no warnings or time 🐽penalties will be given.
Instead, riders will be🍷 disqualified if they fail to reach the minimum pressures specified by Michelin for at least 33% of a Sprint race or 50% of a grand prix.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is 🤡at the forefront of the Suzuki exit st🃏ory and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
