Pitlane off-limits for journalists and photographers...but here is the (almost) naked Yamaha

Just give us a hand in trying to understand how things work please. On 19 January, Dorna issued a statement prohibiting journalists and photographers from being present in the pitlane. The intention, of course, was not to be spied on and to be able to keep the garage doors open while working. Naturally we all know that it is the manufacturers themselves who spy on each other: they certainly don't need us to get technical information. However we geared ourselves up for not being able to see the bikes stopped in the pits because the message was clear:

After the controversy, and as a clarification after talking to the 5 manufacturers:

The Shakedown test has always been, and continues to be, a private test paid for by the manufacturers, which has always been restricted, and the press has never had access to this test. Recently, after request by the manufacturers, this test has been organized by IRTA. Regardless of this, the press has not followed these instructions, and have many times, entered the circuit and the Pit Lane in particular, when this test is for manufacturers to test their new machines in private. Having said this, the manufacturers agree that media is allowed into the circuit on the days of the shakedown and allowed to the Paddock and the media centre and service road on, but not the pit lane.

However, once we arrived in Sepang, we were surprised to see that a Dorna photographer was in any case present in the pitlane and could take pictures.

The fact is that this shakedown has been going on for years, for always and ever since it was established, the press has always had free access. Moreover, unless the managers of the European manufacturers lied, Ducati, Aprilia and KTM were only asked when it was a done thing. At this point we would like to understand the exact meaning of this decision, when Dorna also publishes images of the bikes.

In the one we used as the cover, published on Instagram, you can even see the Yamaha without the lower part of the fairing with the exhaust visible.

So yes, we are a bit jealous, but above all we are close to our fellow photographers who, having paid (like us) for the flight from their respective residences to Malaysia, cannot provide, presumably for a fee, images to magazines and newspapers which are then found free of charge on the web .

As someone once said: there's something that doesn’t add up. Better to have a laugh about it. If MotoGP needs more visibility, without blaming the (dreadful) MotoGP Unlimited series entirely, someone here should examine their conscience and perhaps hire a more enlightened communications manager. By the way, is there anyone with this role between FIM, Dorna and IRTA?