It's not something you hear every day - a contracted rider being told he won't be racing in the next race - but that is exactly what has happened to Maverick Viñales. The factory Yamaha MotoGP team has informed him that he will not be taking part in the next race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria because he behaved like a spoilt kid at last weekend's race, also at the Red Bull Ring. A study of the telemetry has revealed what looks like a deliberate attempt to blow up the engine by taking it to the redline on the straights and not changing up into sixth gear. The question is now, will he race for Yamaha again this season???

Maverick Viñales Told He's Not Racing This Weekend

Now, here's something new: a factory Yamaha rider has been banned from racing in the next MotoGP race by the team. Not by race officials, but by his own team!

This weekend sees the second race in two weekends at the stunning Red Bull Ring in Austria. In the first, Viñales got away well at the start, only for the race to be red-flagged within a few corners due to a scary accident that left the track aflame.

At the re-start, Viñales stalled his bike on the grid at the start of the warm-up lap and had to start from the pit lane. He later said that he struggled with bike problems, seeing a persistent 'pit lane' message on his dashboard and suffering the ignominy of a long-lap penalty for exceeding track limits. He finished the race in last position.

The team has since spent a few days analysing the telemetry and deduced that Viñales was riding like a spoilt kid who's had his toys taken away. Part of the statement read; 'Yamaha‘s conclusion is that the rider‘s actions could have potentially caused significant damage to the engine of his YZR-M1 bike which could have caused serious risks to the rider himself and possibly posed a danger to all other riders in the MotoGP race.'

So, what was Viñales doing to deserve such a reprimand? Well, nothing is certain, but trackside observers claim they heard him deliberately revving the engine on the limiter along the main straight rather than changing up into sixth gear. From that, we can only assume he was taking his frustration out on the bike. What is clear is that his lap times dropped in the last three laps and that his top speed on the straight was down to 287kmh from a high of 312kmh earlier in the race.

From Yamaha's reaction, it would suggest that Viñales wasn't experiencing gearbox problems that would prevent him from changing into top gear.

Now, it's understandable that frustration with a particular situation might set in but any action that might endanger other riders simply cannot be tolerated. What would have happened if the engine had let go and spread oil all over the track? The riders are only human, but they are also complete professionals and shouldn't let emotion get the better of them. I know that's easy to say from the comfort of an armchair and, were it to happen in the heat of battle, then that's one thing, while still not being acceptable. But to tool around at the back of the field and have a hissy fit all on your own just isn't on.

Viñales is due to leave Yamaha at the end of the season, both parties having agreed to the split. Could last weekend's actions have a larger impact, in that he might not ride a factory Yamaha - or any MotoGP bike for that matter - again this season?

Here's Yamaha's statement in full:

'Yamaha regrets to announce that Maverick Viñales‘ entry to this weekend‘s Austrian MotoGP event has been withdrawn by the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team.

'The absence follows the suspension of the rider by Yamaha due to the unexplained irregular operation of the motorcycle by the rider during last weekend‘s Styria MotoGP race.

'Yamaha‘s decision follows an in-depth analysis of telemetry and data over the last days.

'Yamaha‘s conclusion is that the rider‘s actions could have potentially caused significant damage to the engine of his YZR-M1 bike which could have caused serious risks to the rider himself and possibly posed a danger to all other riders in the MotoGP race.

'The rider will not be replaced at the Austrian GP.

'Decisions regarding the future races will be taken after a more detailed analysis of the situation and further discussions between Yamaha and the rider.'

It's the racing equivalent of being sent to the corner of the classroom.