Grabbing a tow from a faster rider has been the norm in GP racing, everyone has resorted to it at least once in their career (even Valentino Rossi at Jerez this year) and it usually happens at the end of practice sessions, but it mostly occurs in qualifying when riders slowly cruise dangerously outside the racing line waiting to leech onto the wheel of their faster competitors.
There have been several complaints over the years about this pratice – Casey Stoner has always been the most vocal and the most visibly riled about the issue – while other riders have their teams prepare pit boards to indicate that someone is wheel sucking.
Apparently Race Direction has decided this long-time habit has to come to end, and at the Misano GP the riders were briefed that grabbing a tow is no longer deemed acceptable and anyone caught in the act (besides TV and circuit footage, lap times will also be checked) will be subject to sanctions.
Hector Barbera is warned.