The minimum tire pressure rule was introduced at the British MotoGP Grand Prix and claimed its first “victim” this Sunday: Aleix Espargaró violated the parameters and was penalized by three seconds in the Thai Grand Prix race.
The Aprilia rider finished the race in Buriram in fifth place and, after being penalized, dropped to eighth place overall. The front tire must have a minimum pressure of 1.7 bar, a value that increases to 1.9 bar for the rear tire.
By being sanctioned, Espargaró was in breach for the second time: the regulations state that the first time would result in a warning and the second time would lead to a three-second penalty. This penalty increases to six seconds with a third offense and reaches 12 seconds if a fourth irregularity is committed.
Não foi só Espargaró a chamar a atenção dos comissários devido à pressão dos pneus na Tailândia. O vencedor Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati) e Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) desrespeitaram igualmente os limites, mas como foi a primeira vez de cada um deles escaparam apenas com um aviso.
