Statement from Yamaha’s CEO regarding the Quartararo fine
Statement from Yamaha’s CEO regarding the Quartararo fine. Managing Director of Monster Energy and Yamaha Motor Racing As a result of a collision with Aleix Espargaro on lap 5 of the TT Assen race, Yamaha MotoGPTM Team Principal Lin Jarvis has expressed his displeasure with Fabio Quartararo’s long-lap punishment for the forthcoming Monster Energy British Grand Prix.
According to Jarvis, ‘Yamaha, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPTM Team, and Fabio Quartararo have always worked to promote justice and sportsmanship in MotoGPTM. We are disappointed by the unfairness with which the FIM MotoGP Stewards panel imposes sanctions.’
The following are the reasons why the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team disagrees with the FIM MotoGP Stewards panel’s ruling from Sunday:
– Despite Quartararo’s admission that he made a mistake in Turn 5 on lap 5 of the TT Circuit Assen, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPTM considers this to be a race incident. Without a history of prior mishaps, Quartararo has a reputation as a trustworthy rider. It was an innocent error that wasn’t done intentionally.
– Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPTM recognizes that Aleix Espargaro’s race was impacted, but it is unclear how serious. The FIM MotoGP Stewards panel, in the opinion of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPTM, uses inconsistent, arbitrary standards to assess the seriousness of racing incidents.
‘The FIM MotoGPTM Stewards panel’s inconsistent application of sanctions during the 2022 season undermines both the legitimacy of the Stewards’ authority and the fairness of the MotoGP series. There have been at least three further significant race incidents in the MotoGP Class that have gone unpunished and forced riders to retire from the race or cause injury.’
As Jarvis puts it, ‘We intended to protest the Stewards’ judgment from Sunday at the Assen circuit, but this kind of punishment is not subject to debate or appeal. Then, as a matter of principle, we intended to bring up the problem with CAS (Court of Arbitration of Sport), but an appeal in such a case is not permitted. The Stewards should make sound choices in the first place that are fair and consistent, and then carry them out within the proper, reasonable timeframe.‘