Alex Márquez: Valentino Rossi and his friends know that Yamaha cheats

KOMPAS.com – Alex Marquez said that Valentino Rossi and others really knew about Yamaha’s cheating in the first series of races this season.

As is known, Yamaha made illegal modifications before the Spanish MotoGP at the Jerez Circuit in July.

The team bearing the tuning fork logo replaced the engine valve without the approval of the Motorsports Manufacturers Association (MSMA).

As a result, Yamaha was sentenced by FIM Stewards MotoGP to a 50-point penalty in the constructors’ classification.

The Monster Energy Yamaha team was also sentenced to a 20-point deduction, while the Petronas Yamaha SRT dropped by 37 points in the team standings.

Also read: Including the director, 5 members of the Yamaha team absent from European MotoGP due to Covid-19

However, the sanctions were not applied to the YZR-M1 drivers, such as Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli.

In fact, the top four riders, with the exception of Rossi, achieved good results in the Spanish MotoGP.

Quartararo and Vinales finished first and second respectively, while Morbidelli was fifth.

According to Motorport, Morbidelli, Quartararo and Viñales denied that they knew that the machines used by Yamaha in the Spanish MotoGP were illegal.

However, this statement was not fully believed by MotoGP riders, including Alex Márquez.

Also read: European MotoGP – Starting from Pit Lane, Maverick Vinales criticizes Yamaha

According to Alex, the team is always open to riders regarding all bikes used.

So the excuse of “not knowing” is, according to Alex, impossible.

“What is clear is that they (Yamaha) have committed fraud or have violated the regulations,” said the Repsol Honda rider.

“The reasons ‘I don’t know’ exist, but the manufacturer is always open and you know what machine you are using,” he added.

“You know everything. As a driver, you always pay attention when they install the engine or put it away,” said Marc Márquez’s younger brother.

Also read: He failed on the podium in MotoGP Teruel, Alex Márquez admits he made mistakes

Alex Márquez and other riders will return to the Ricardo Tormo Circuit today Saturday (7/11/2020).

They will participate in three free practice sessions (FP) to qualify and determine the starting position of the 2020 MotoGP European race.

The European MotoGP races take place tomorrow Sunday (11/8/2020).