Moto3: Towing clampdown sees four punished

Race Direction's clampdown on Moto2 and especially Moto3 riders moving slowly while wait for a tow has resulted in four riders being punished at Valencia.

MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb had warned riders in a pre-event meeting that a tougher interpretation of the existing rules on 'irresponsible riding' would be taken.

"On 8 November, during the Moto3 Qualifying session of the Gran Premio Generali Comunitat Valenciana, riders #13 Jasper Iwema, #17 John McPhee, #38 Hafiq Azmi, and #91 Gabriel Rodrigo were riding at significantly slower than racing speed, thus disturbing and causing possible danger to other riders and themselves," said an FIM statement.

"This is in direct contravention of the instructions given at the riders briefing on 6 November and is considered to be irresponsible riding and is therefore an infringement of Article 1.21.2 of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations.

"A Race Direction hearing was held with the riders in attendance.

"The decision of Race Direction is to impose the addition of one Penalty Point to the record of each of the riders; #13 Jasper Iwema, #17 John McPhee, #38 Hafiq Azmi, and #91 Gabriel Rodrigo, according to Article 3.3.1.3 of the 2014 FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Disciplinary and Arbitration Code.

"No appeals have been lodged. The decision of Race Direction is final."