Ducati swingarm aerodynamic devices in spotlight
Andrea Dovizioso and the Mission Winnow Ducati Team kicked off the 2019 MotoGP season with a bang, claiming the opening round win over the weekend, but not without causing some controversy with the machines of Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci (sixth at Qatar) and Jack Miller (DNF at Qatar) coming under the spotlight, with other teams protesting the swingarm aerodynamic devices. See below the official statement:
VisitQatar Grand Prix protests referred to MotoGP Court of Appeals
Over the weekend at the Qatar round of the MotoGP Championship, the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel received protests concerning aerodynamic devices on the rear swing arm of Ducati machinery ridden by Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati Team), Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati Team) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing).
The protests were made by Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Repsol Honda Team and Team Suzuki Ecstar, who presented their concerns to the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel. Based on guidelines and regulations currently in force, the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel rejected their protests and the result of the VisitQatar Grand Prix remains in standing. An appeals process is ongoing.
The protests have now been referred to MotoGP Court of Appeals.
Qatar MotoGP Race Results
| Pos | Rider | Nation | Bike | Time/Gap |
| 1 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati | 42’36.902 |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Honda | +0.023 |
| 3 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Honda | +0.320 |
| 4 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki | +0.457 |
| 5 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Yamaha | +0.600 |
| 6 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Ducati | +2.320 |
| 7 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Yamaha | +2.481 |
| 8 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki | +5.088 |
| 9 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | Honda | +7.406 |
| 10 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia | +9.636 |
| 11 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Yamaha | +9.647 |
| 12 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | KTM | +12.774 |
| 13 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Honda | +14.307 |
| 14 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | Aprilia | +14.349 |
| 15 | Johann Zarco | FRA | KTM | +15.093 |
| 16 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Yamaha | +15.905 |
| 17 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | KTM | +16.377 |
| 18 | Karel Abraham | CZE | Ducati | +22.972 |
| 19 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Ducati | +23.039 |
| 20 | Hafizh Syahrin | MAL | KTM | +43.242 |
| Not Classified | ||||
| / | Bradley Smith | GBR | Aprilia | 2 Laps |
| / | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati | 10 Laps |
| / | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati | 13 Laps |
MotoGP Championship Standings
| Pos | Rider | Bike | Nation | Points |
| 1 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | ITA | 25 |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | Honda | SPA | 20 |
| 3 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | GBR | 16 |
| 4 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | SPA | 13 |
| 5 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha | ITA | 11 |
| 6 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati | ITA | 10 |
| 7 | Maverick Viñales | Yamaha | SPA | 9 |
| 8 | Joan Mir | Suzuki | SPA | 8 |
| 9 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda | JPN | 7 |
| 10 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | SPA | 6 |
| 11 | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha | ITA | 5 |
| 12 | Pol Espargaro | KTM | SPA | 4 |
| 13 | Jorge Lorenzo | Honda | SPA | 3 |
| 14 | Andrea Iannone | Aprilia | ITA | 2 |
| 15 | Johann Zarco | KTM | FRA | 1 |
| 16 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | FRA | 0 |
| 17 | Miguel Oliveira | KTM | POR | 0 |
| 18 | Karel Abraham | Ducati | CZE | 0 |
| 19 | Tito Rabat | Ducati | SPA | 0 |
| 20 | Hafizh Syahrin | KTM | MAL | 0 |
| 21 | Bradley Smith | Aprilia | GBR | 0 |
| 22 | Jack Miller | Ducati | AUS | 0 |
| 23 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | ITA | 0 |
Source: MCNews.com.au