During the MotoGP™ race at the season opener in Qatar on 10 March 2019, technical protests concerning the use of a device on Ducati machines were lodged with the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards by Team Suzuki Ecstar against #43 Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing), by Repsol Honda Team against #4 Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati), and by Red Bull KTM Factory Team and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini against #9 Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati). 

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The protesting teams considered that the device was primarily an aerodynamic device and therefore not compliant with the MotoGP technical regulations. After a hearing, the four protests were rejected.

The same four teams then lodged appeals against the MotoGP™ Stewards’ decision to the MotoGP™ Appeal Stewards and a further hearing was conducted. The MotoGP™ Appeal Stewards determined that further technical evaluation was required and that this was not possible under the circumstances. They, therefore, decided to refer the matter to the MotoGP™ Court of Appeal in accordance with Art. 3.3.3.2 of the applicable Regulations.

 Following a hearing in Mies on Friday 22 March, the MotoGP™ Court of Appeal handed down its decision today 26 March and the parties (the four appellants, Ducati and the FIM) have been duly notified.

On these grounds, the MotoGP™ Court of Appeal rules that:

The appeals filed by Team Aprilia, Team Suzuki, Team Honda and Team KTM are admissible.

The provisional race results are confirmed and are declared as final.

The request to declare the Device illegal and ban its use in future races is rejected. An appeal against this decision may be lodged before the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne Switzerland within 5 days pursuant to Article 3.9 of the 2019 FIM World Championship Grand Prix Regulations. 

(Story and photos from MotoGP.com)