Yamaha being investigated over illegal MotoGP engines
Yamaha is under investigation for allegedly running illegal MotoGP engines during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend at Jerez, Motorsport.com understands ahead of the European GP.
Yamaha's early season was overshadowed by reliability issues with its engines, after Valentino Rossi and Petronas SRT's Franco Morbidelli were forced out of the Spanish and Andalusian GPs due to broken motors.
The analysis carried out at the time attributed the problems to a faulty batch of valves from a secondary supplier.
Due to the engine freezing rules, Yamaha could not unseal its engines to fully rectify this – though did request on safety grounds to do this to the Manufacturers' Association, but withdrew the request soon after.
Since Jerez, it is understood Yamaha riders have been running with their engines slightly turned down to avoid any repeat issues.
Not all engines in each of Rossi, Morbidelli, Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo's allocation featured the offending valves.
Now Yamaha is being investigated for running an engine with valves not in the sample engine submitted to MotoGP technical direction for homologation pre-season.
Yamaha removed its request to the MSMA after the other marque's asked for documentation from the valve supplier confirming a manufacturing error.
A sanction could have massive repercussions on Yamaha's championship hopes, with Quartararo, Vinales and Morbidelli all currently within 25 points of standings leader Joan Mir on the Suzuki with three rounds to go.
Quartararo won the opening two Jerez rounds, with Vinales trailing him in both, with Quartararo, Vinales and Morbidelli winning four more races between them – making Yamaha the most successful manufacturer this season.
All Yamaha riders have unsealed their five allocated engines this season, though Vinales appears to be struggling the most having put the most mileage on his fourth and fifth engines.
Should he be forced to unseal a sixth engine in the final three races, Vinales will be forced to start from pitlane.
Yamaha is yet to comment on the investigation.
News of this investigation compounds what has been a tough period for Yamaha, with Rossi currently sidelined due to COVID-19 and unlikely to race in this weekend's European Grand Prix.
He is set to be replaced by Yamaha World Superbike rider Garrett Gerloff.
Related video
Previous article
Replacing Rossi "something dreams are made of" - Gerloff
Next article
Crutchlow suffered broken shoulder ligament at Aragon
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Teams | Yamaha Factory Racing |
| Author | Oriol Puigdemont |
Repsol Honda Team - Pol Espargaró Q&A
Repsol Honda Team - Marc Marquez Q&A
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title
