Suzuki: "Hazy" rule to blame for Guintoli exclusion
Suzuki has blamed a “hazy” regulation regarding MotoGP wildcard riders for Sylvain Guintoli’s exclusion from Friday’s practice sessions at Motegi and having to ditch its 2020 engine.
Test rider Guintoli is making his fourth race appearance this year on the GSX-RR this weekend at Motegi, and ran a prototype version of Suzuki’s ’20 engine on Friday - the Frenchman saying he was encouraged by its performance.
But the stewards subsequently excluded him from the FP1 and FP2 results for running an engine deemed illegal under homologation rules. As a result, Suzuki also had to revert Guintoli to a current-spec motor for Saturday.
“Suzuki misunderstood the regulation,” team boss Davide Brivio told Motorsport.com. “We thought that, as a wildcard, it was fine for Guintoli to run the new spec engine.
“The regulation is a bit hazy, but of course we accepted [the ruling] and we swapped back to the current-spec [engine].”
As Suzuki is one of four manufacturers – along with Honda, Yamaha and Ducati – to run without concessions, its engines are frozen for the year prior to the first race.
This rule extends to wildcard riders for non-concession manufacturers.
Guintoli, who qualified 21st for Suzuki’s home event, branded the Suzuki’s running of an illegal engine as a simple misinterpretation of the rules.
“Obviously what happened was a mistake of interpretation of the rule,” he said. “So we corrected it this morning before FP3, and rightly so the times were taken off from yesterday.
“In a sense of the rule I kind of agree [that this rule shouldn’t apply to test riders], but it is what it is – we are not contesting anything.”
Guintoli says Suzuki was only told about the ruling “not long” before FP3, and praised the efforts of his team to swap out the engines as quick as they did.
“We were told this morning not a long time before FP3,” he added. “The guys did a great [job]. It was not long before FP3, so they did a great job swapping [the engines].
“I only had one bike for FP3, [they] swapped the engine quickly back to this year’s spec so I could do FP3, and I only started five minutes late.”
Sylvain Guintoli, Team Suzuki MotoGP
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Share Or Save This Story
Marquez “comfortable” on Ducati MotoGP bike “but not ready for podium”
Brivio: Trackhouse offers 'great opportunity' for MotoGP and NASCAR worlds to collide
Marini urges patience at Honda as new MotoGP season approaches
MotoGP riders’ association in the works, Guintoli set to lead it
Ex-MotoGP racer Guintoli sets sights on unique Le Mans accolade
Suzuki's Guintoli to miss Suzuka 8 Hours due to injury
The MotoGP philosophy Suzuki's "madman" installed that Honda and Yamaha can't
Mir: No publicity campaign will replicate what MotoGP gave Suzuki
Rins was ‘crying on the grid’ before taking Suzuki’s farewell MotoGP win
Ollie Bearman’s Ferrari F1 hopes boosted by Karun Chandhok's verdict on Haas progress
Complete IndyCar championship standings after Long Beach 2026
"This kid is on fire" - Michael Jordan praises Reddick after NASCAR Kansas win
Scott Dixon calls Long Beach race "blah" despite first podium of IndyCar season
Did MotoGP make its Brazil return too soon?
Where MotoGP’s penalty system still lacks clarity
Five things we learned at the MotoGP Thai GP
Five MotoGP riders who need a big 2026 season
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments