After a hearing held by the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards on Saturday afternoon following MotoGP™ qualifying, last-start winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has been handed a three-place grid penalty and also a Long Lap penalty for the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
The Portuguese rider was observed making a practice start at Turn 2 before taking the chequered flag in Q1, which is a breach of FIM World Championship Grand Prix Regulations. Likewise, he was adjudged to have impeded Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) by riding slowly on the racing line later on that same lap, causing a dangerous situation for other riders.
No appeal can be made which means the decision is final. With Oliveira having been classified 11th in Q1, he will be moved from 21st to 24th on the starting grid – a big mountain to climb in his bid for two race wins in a row.