Aleix Espargaro made some fulsome gestures in FP3 after a fast lap was baulked on the last corner when he came upon Xavier Simeon and Alex Rins cruising on their way into the rather awkwardly placed pit lane.

Only a few minutes later, however, the Spanish Aprilia rider was himself cruising on the racing line on the entry to the same corner, when a speeding Marc Marquez came storming up behind, and had to back off.

This time, Espargaro’s waves were in apology; but when Race Direction examined the incident they felt it was worthy of sanction. And since it was his third offence this year, the punishment was a costly six grid places. He was third in Q1, but the penalty turns 13th overall into 19th, on row seven.

Rins and Simeon were also called before the stewards, but escaped punishment.

By Michael Scott

Photos Gold and Goose

Aleix Espargaro, Dutch MotoGP 2018