Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso will keep his Qatar MotoGP win, after the protest made against the Italian marque's aerodynamic devices was thrown out by the stewards.
Four manufacturers – Aprilia, KTM, Honda and Suzuki – launched an official protest at the end of the 22-lap Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday night against the aerodynamic scoop attached to the Ducati's swingarm.
After the parts were submitted for inspection by the FIM's technical delegates, the protest was originally thrown out.
However, the matter has now been referred to the Court of Appeals.
A brief MotoGP statement read: “At the VisitQatar Grand Prix, the FIM MotoG Stewards Panel received various protests concerning aerodynamic devices on the rear swingarm of Ducati machinery ridden by Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller [Alma Pramac Racing].
“The protests were made by Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Red Bull Factory KTM Racing, Repsol Honda Team and Team Suzuki Ecstar, who presented their concerns to the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel.
“Based on the guidelines and regulations currently in forced, the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel rejected their protests.”
An updated statement added: “An appeals process then began and the appeals panel has subsequently decided to refer the case to the MotoGP Court of Appeals in order to attain more information pertaining to the matter.”
Dovizioso's victory, which he secured by just 0.023s from Honda's Marc Marquez, and Petrucci's sixth-place finish still stands.
