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Final practice for last weekend's Portimao MotoGP finale saw Johann Zarco pull onto the run-off area towards the end of the lap, with smoke emitting from his Avintia Ducati.

MotoGP's clampdown on riders improving their lap time while passing yellow flags caused further controversy in qualifying at Aragon last weekend.

  MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb has explained the thinking behind the new ‘Long Lap Penalty’ (LLP) that will be implemented from the first round of 2019, stating it is an idea that “fits all our criteria” for mid-race penalisations.

Whilst deciding that reigning 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli 'rode in an irresponsible manner, causing danger to Alvaro Bautista' in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, the Gilera rider has been allowed to keep his second place finish.