Tyre pressures: Three riders under in Valencia Sprint, two penalties

Fortunately, the trio concerned - Fabio di Giannantonio (6th), Luca Marini (14th) and Franco Morbidelli (15th) - all finished behind title rivals Jorge Martin (1st) and Francesco Bagnaia (5th).

The 14-point difference between Bagnaia and Martin thus remains unchanged heading into Sunday's world championship showdown.

As a first offence, di Giannantonio (who finished in the wheeltracks of Bagnaia) was given only an Official Warning.

But for Marini and Morbidelli it was their second low-pressure offence, meaning a 3-second time penalty. Both were already well outside of the points, but Marini will now drop to 17th and Morbidelli 18th.

The trio of low-pressure infringements are the first in a Sprint race, where only 33% of the race laps need to be above the required pressure threshold, increasing fears of further penalties in Sunday's full-length title decider.

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Of the 21 riders on the grid only Fabio Quartararo, Takaaki Nakagami, Brad Binder, Alex Rins and Lorenzo Savadori are yet to use their Official Warning 'joker'.

Those five are therefore the only riders guaranteed not to lose any positions due to tyre pressure infringements on Sunday (and could start the race deliberately low).

The other 16 riders on Sunday's grid, including Bagnaia and Martin, would either receive a 3-second penalty for a second offence or - in the case of Aleix Espargaro, Morbidelli and Marini - a 6-second sanction for a third offence.

To be guaranteed of at least keeping their finishing position regardless of tyre pressure checks on Sunday, Martin and Bagnaia need to cross the line at least 3 seconds ahead of the rider behind, to absorb any potential penalty.

But the championship outcome could also change if any rider ahead of Bagnaia or Martin receives a post-race penalty big enough to drop them behind either of the title rivals on the revised results.

For example, if Martin wins and Bagnaia is sixth, Martin will take the title... But if any rider less than 3 seconds ahead of Bagnaia then receives a 3-second penalty, Bagnaia would move up one place and retain his crown.

From the start of next season, any breach of the tyre pressure rules will result in disqualification.