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Yamaha's Lin Jarvis explained to BT Sport how the situation occurred and why Yamaha believed the mix of valve suppliers for 'identical' parts was not against the rules.

Except that the valves weren't identical, due to 'nuances' between the two suppliers and due to a 'fault' with the new batch. However, documentation needed to prove this fault to Yamaha's rivals could not be provided to the MSMA, who would need to be convinced that Yamaha hadn't just pushed its valve design over the limit by using a lighter mix of materials.

"There's a big misunderstanding because people talk about 'switching valves'," Yamaha's Lin Jarvis told BT Sport.

"We planned to run this season with a certain spec of valves from a certain supplier. During last year when we were ordering parts we understood that the supplier was going to stop producing that valve.

"Yamaha then searched for another supplier with the same spec valve. No performance advantage. That was done and we then [had a mix] of valves from both suppliers for the 2020 season.

"Yamaha considered these valves to be identical. The regulations don't say you can't use two different suppliers, it says the parts must be identical in every respect. This was the misunderstanding in Japan.

"The sample engine for this season was then fitted with used [old] valves, let's call it valve 'type A'. But we began the season with eight engines with valve 'type B'. It was an innocent misjudgement of the regulations. 

"Then we had a technical failure [at Jerez] and when we investigated we found that not only the 'B' valves were different from the sample engine, but had a technical failure. Some weakness. The batch produced followed a different procedure. That's why we requested to the MSMA to change the valves. We were unable to get the evidence from the valve supplier so we withdrew that application and we looked for another solution.

"But we were transparent from the beginning that we wanted to use the other ['A'] valves, that are identical, and it was [during that discussion] that a red light alerted us that those valves could be considered different. So we suspended use of the [Jerez] engines, apart from practice and qualifying in Austria for two riders. All our engines, apart from the initial eight, have now been fitted with type ['A'].

"So it was an error in the protocol because there was no advantage gained. We should have asked permission... But we did not 'switch the valves'."

But the engine saga is far from over for Yamaha.

With their Jerez 1 engines parked, mileage is rising on the others - Vinales being forced to take an extra (sixth) engine at Valencia, meaning he will start the race from pit lane.

A similar fate could yet await Quartararo and Morbidelli in the remaining three rounds...