Aleix Espargaro hit with three-second penalty for incorrect tyre pressure

Aleix Espargaro has become the first rider to be penalised for incorrect tyre pressure.
Aleix Espargaro, Thailand MotoGP 27 October
Aleix Espargaro, Thailand MotoGP 27 October

The Aprilia rider was hit with a three-second time penalty after the Thailand MotoGP for spending more than 50% of the race under the minimum tyre pressure.

His punishment means a fifth-place finish has turned into a eighth-place finish.

The severity of the punishment is because it is Espargaro's second offence under the new regulations.

A third offence would carry a six-second time penalty, and a fourth offence is a 12-second time penalty.

Maverick Vinales, Espargaro's teammate, became the first MotoGP rider to break the new rules in Barcelona. He was given an official warning.

Also in Thailand on Sunday, Pol Espargaro, Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin were hit with official warnings for their first breach of the tyre pressure rule. They each spent more than 50% of the race with less than the minimum pressure.

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