– An error in the setup of Fabio Quartararo’s Yamaha was the reason for the penalty imposed in Silverstone, which caused him to fall out of the points positions.
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Fabio Quartararo lost the points he had earned in Silverstone due to a 16-second penalty and dropped back to 16th place. Such a penalty is usually imposed when a rider has not completed enough laps with a tire pressure above the minimum value prescribed by Michelin for safety reasons. However, this was not the case on Sunday.
The Yamaha rider was penalized because the pressure values of his front tire were simply not recorded by the monitoring system. The penalty ruling stated that “the sensor ID was not recorded in the receiver’s database.” This situation was the result of a procedural error by Quartararo’s team.
The pressure sensors mounted on the rims as well as the unit responsible for the wireless reception and storage of their data – the so-called Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – are provided by the French company OnRace Motorsports for the entire championship.
Subsequently, each manufacturer is responsible for managing their stock of sensors, attaching them to the motorcycles, and configuring the system.
A problem detected during the race
During the race, the data from the front tire pressure sensor on Quartararo’s motorcycle was not transmitted in real time to the championship organizers. Danny Aldridge, the technical director of MotoGP, asked OnRace Motorsports to analyze the problem after the race ended.
The first step was to check whether the sensor was functioning. For this, the sensor’s parameters such as pressure, temperature, and battery level were read using a device available to all teams. The tire pressure was then compared with the pressure measured by Michelin using a pressure gauge. Both measurements were identical. So the sensor was working properly.
However, no communication was established between the system mounted on the motorcycle and the ECU, which is connected to the championship systems during the race. Further investigations were to clarify whether the problem originated from the system itself or during the preparation of the motorcycle.
The sensor was not registered in the receiver
The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System requires prior configuration. Each manufacturer must register the identification numbers of the sensors used on their motorcycles in the receiver. Additionally, the system must know whether each sensor is assigned to the front or rear wheel.
The analysis showed: The sensor mounted on the rim of Quartararo’s motorcycle was not included in the list of sensors stored in the receiver’s memory. The sensor itself was fully functional, but the receiver could not identify it and was unable to receive its data.
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Since no signs of a defect were found in any component, it could only have been a failure by Yamaha in setting up the motorcycle before the race.
This constitutes a violation of the regulations. The responsibility for this is clearly defined in Article 2.4.4.9.1: Manufacturers must ensure that the sensors mounted on their motorcycles are correctly registered and that the measurement system functions properly before the race.
The championship has been monitoring tire data since Silverstone 2023, so for three years. Until now, no team had been confronted with such a failure.
System aims to prevent unjustified penalties
A failure of the sensor or the TPMS system does not automatically lead to a penalty for a rider or team. The procedures provided for in such cases are intended to clarify, in particular, whether a possible data loss is due to a technical problem or a configuration error. The responsibilities between the system provider and the teams are clearly defined.
The technical documentation provided to the manufacturers describes the procedure to be followed. This includes, in particular, the so-called “Permit List,” which lists the sensor IDs assigned to the front and rear wheels.
Manufacturers must correctly register the sensor IDs in the “Permit List” so that each motorcycle can recognize the sensors assigned to it. They must also regularly check the condition of the sensor batteries and their voltage to ensure that the sensors function until the end of the race.
If a sensor fails during a practice or race, the cause is investigated. If a sensor functions properly but was not registered in the receiver, this is considered a configuration error attributable to the team.
On Quartararo’s motorcycle, the sensor worked perfectly, its pressure measurement was correct, and no system error was detected. The problem was solely that the data was missing in the receiver’s memory. This procedural error led to the imposed 16-second penalty.
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