Guintoli disqualified from Friday for 2020 engine
Suzuki wild-card rider Sylvain Guintoli has been disqualified from yesterday's MotoGP practice sessions at Motegi, due to use of a 2020 engine.
The team were quite open about the Frenchman's use of a prototype engine at this weekend's Japanese MotoGP, but the FIM Stewards Panel have pointed out that 'using a 2020 engine specification… contravenes Article 2.4.6.2 of the Grand Prix Regulations'.
Article 2.4.6.2 reads as follows:
Suzuki wild-card rider Sylvain Guintoli has been disqualified from yesterday's MotoGP practice sessions at Motegi, due to use of a 2020 engine.
The team were quite open about the Frenchman's use of a prototype engine at this weekend's Japanese MotoGP, but the FIM Stewards Panel have pointed out that 'using a 2020 engine specification… contravenes Article 2.4.6.2 of the Grand Prix Regulations'.
Article 2.4.6.2 reads as follows:
Wild Card entries using machines from an MSMA manufacturer currently entered in the MotoGP class are subject to all technical regulations related to their specific manufacturer, including engine specification, ECU hardware and software, sensor approval and free device checking.
In other words, Guintoli has to use the same sealed engines as regular Suzuki riders Alex Rins and Joan Mir.
Since Guintoli was only 20th after Friday's dry sessions, and therefore already heading for this afternoon's Qualifying 1 session, losing his lap times does not make any difference.
The Frenchman was then fifth fastest in the wet FP3 session on Saturday morning.
Riders from manufacturers benefitting from technical concessions, Aprilia and KTM, are not subject to the engine development freeze.
| Japanese MotoGP - Free Practice (3) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) | 1'54.710s | 15/15 | 300k |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.174s | 8/16 | 299k |
| 3 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.465s | 18/19 | 294k |
| 4 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.748s | 18/19 | 295k |
| 5 | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.880s | 9/15 | 298k |
| 6 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) | +1.012s | 12/18 | 303k |
| 7 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.086s | 18/18 | 298k |
| 8 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)* | +1.101s | 18/19 | 293k |
| 9 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) | +1.114s | 12/14 | 294k |
| 10 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +1.150s | 18/19 | 294k |
| 11 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* | +1.262s | 18/18 | 300k |
| 12 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.520s | 14/18 | 292k |
| 13 | Mika Kallio | FIN | Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) | +1.533s | 19/19 | 295k |
| 14 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +1.687s | 12/14 | 293k |
| 15 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.827s | 17/18 | 294k |
| 16 | Karel Abraham | CZE | Reale Avintia Ducati (GP18) | +2.099s | 15/17 | 298k |
| 17 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +2.102s | 18/18 | 293k |
| 18 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Ducati (GP19) | +2.130s | 7/9 | 299k |
| 19 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Pramac Ducati (GP18)* | +2.466s | 18/19 | 301k |
| 20 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +2.516s | 13/16 | 294k |
| 21 | Hafizh Syahrin | MAL | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +2.845s | 13/18 | 293k |
| 22 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +2.895s | 15/15 | 295k |
| 23 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Reale Avintia Ducati (GP18) | +3.911s | 12/17 | 296k |
| Riders going directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)* |
| 2 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 3 | Marc Marquez | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
| 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) |
| 5 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 6 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 7 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Ducati (GP19) |
| 8 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) |
| 9 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* |
| 10 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
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 story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
