Yamaha have been docked 50 MotoGP world championship constructor points after using unauthorised engine parts from a different supplier following their early-season reliability troubles.
The Japanese manufacturer suffered issues with the valves utilised on its V4 powertrain early on in 2020, as Valentino Rossi and Franco Morbidelli were forced to retire in the Spanish and Andalucian Grand Prix’s respectively.
According to Autosport, Yamaha subsequently elected to replace the faulty valves on several engines used by both its factory and satellite premier class operations with those from a secondary supplier.
Due to the updated engines not matching those supplied by Yamaha for pre-season homologation following an investigation by the FIM, the manufacturer on Thursday was docked 50 points from its constructors tally-dropping it from first to third overall-now 13 behind new leaders Ducati.
In addition, both the Yamaha factory outfit and the Petronas SRT satellite team were deducted 20 and 37 points respectively, representing the points earned by each organisation in the Spanish GP.
The factory team slips from fourth to fifth in the teams standings as a result-now a point behind the official KTM squad-while Petronas SRT remain second, albeit now 42 points down on series leaders Suzuki having been just five behind entering this weekend’s European GP event.
Importantly though none of Yamaha’s four riders received any punishment, meaning Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales and Franco Morbidelli remain firmly in play for a late title challenge as the trio aim to reduce points leader Joan Mir’s championship advantage.
