Pramac Explains Miller and Razgatlioglu Penalties

Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu saw their Catalan MotoGP 2026 results compromised after both riders received post-race penalties for failing to comply with minimum tyre pressure regulations. The 16-second penalties handed to the Pramac Yamaha riders were part of a broader wave of sanctions that affected five competitors following a race disrupted by multiple stoppages and three separate starts.

Although the penalties ultimately cost each rider only one position in the final classification, dropping Miller to 15th and Razgatlioglu to 16th, their gap to race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio more than doubled. The outcome once again highlighted the continuing impact of MotoGP’s tyre pressure regulations on race results.

Pramac team principal Gino Borsoi explained that the Catalunya race created unusually complex technical conditions for engineers. Two race stoppages before the final restart forced teams to repeatedly revise tyre pressure calculations, while the reduction from the original 24-lap distance to just 12 laps significantly altered tyre warm-up behaviour.

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"It's really difficult to get the right pressure after two restarts. The race is short, so the riders have less time to bring the tyres up to temperature. Then, if you are alone, it's one story. If you are not alone, it's another story," Borsoi said.

According to Borsoi, teams were forced to balance regulatory compliance against performance and safety considerations. Starting with higher pressures can help ensure compliance with the minimum requirement but may reduce grip and overall performance. Conversely, pressures that are too low increase the risk of post-race penalties if the required threshold is not reached for the mandated percentage of race distance.

Under standard MotoGP regulations, riders must remain above the minimum pressure for 60 percent of a grand prix. However, because Catalunya's final restart covered only 12 laps, the threshold was reduced to 30 percent, matching Sprint race requirements. Despite the lower target, an unusually high number of riders still failed the checks. Six riders were investigated, with only Francesco Bagnaia avoiding a penalty after officials identified a leaking wheel rim that affected tyre pressure readings.

Another key factor was the circuit's low-grip surface, which delayed tyre warm-up and slowed the increase in internal tyre pressure. Borsoi believes those conditions were a major contributor to the number of penalties issued after the race.

The rider most heavily affected was Joan Mir, who dropped from second place to 13th following the same infringement. With Pirelli set to become MotoGP's exclusive tyre supplier from 2027, tyre pressure monitoring and enforcement are expected to remain a major technical discussion point as the 2026 season continues.