The continuing battle to stop Moto3 riders cruising at low speed waiting to pick up a faster tow had another skirmish at Mugello, with three riders hit with 12-place grid penalties, and others coming close in a mass clampdown.
Two of those punished were of no great significance: Kaito Toba had qualified 27th, and Manuel Pagliani 18th (the latter suffering a 300-Euro fine as well for repeat offences).
The third, Honda-mounted Jorge Martin, was dropped from pole position to the fourth row of the grid. It would have been his third pole start in a row, and his fourth of the year, after taking it on free practice times at Qatar, where qualifying was rained off.
The Spaniard put a brave face on it, at a track where the class usually sees huge slipstreaming groups through to the final lap. “I’m happy because I feel great on the bike and I was able to set the fastest time. It won’t be easy from 13th on the grid. We need to be careful on the opening lap to avoid any early drama, then get to the front of the field as quickly as possible to try to win.”
