After Rossi, Viñales and Morbidelli’s three engine failures at the two Jerez GPs, Yamaha asked MotoGP Technical Director before the Austrian GP whether the other members of the manufacturer alliance would allow Yamaha to open the already sealed engines and the damaged ones Replace valves. At the first MSMA meeting in Spielberg, the other MotoGP manufacturers from Honda to Ducati to KTM then asked for more information in order to gain time, probably also in the hope that Yamaha (back then in the World Cup with three pilots in the first three places) could lose more engines in the meantime.
In the meantime, Yamaha – as reported – withdrew this application before the second Spielberg GP. “The agenda at the MSMA meetings is very busy at the moment, it’s about our engines, it’s about the ‘concessions’, that is, about the privileges of manufacturers like KTM and Aprilia, there are many other topics behind the scenes. Yes, we have requested that we open the motors and replace some parts for safety reasons. We asked if we could replace the valves in the engines that we haven’t used since the engine damage in Jerez. “
Jarvis continues: “In the first meeting before the Austrian GP, eight days ago, we were asked to put more details and more evidence on the damage of the valves on the table, firstly from the manufacturer of the valves, secondly on the specific characteristics of the valves. We then did some more in-depth research in the factory and spoke to the valve seller again. Finally we were unable to deliver the requested document. At the same time, we discovered more information about our valve problem. So we formally withdrew our application on Thursday of this week. We now know more about the valves in particular and the presumed cause of the damage. We will manage the situation without opening the sealed engines. We are very confident that no safety-related incidents will occur on the route. We do this by changing the ‘engine settings’, and we still have enough motors in the rotation. We even have engines from Jerez in use again this weekend that we haven’t used in the meantime. “
As far as the new “engine settings” are concerned, the maximum engine speed seems to have been reduced, because Yamaha’s dominance has vanished since Brno. In Spielberg, the Yamaha bikes are always at the bottom of the field in the top speed ratings. The Yamaha engineers also believe that the 42 degree heat in Jerez contributed to the destruction of the engines.
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.
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.
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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