The answer comes directly from the horse's mouth. In an email exchange with MotoMatters.com, MotoGP Technical Director Mike Webb has revealed that his office (in charge of ensuring compliance with MotoGP's technical regulations) has been closely monitoring the tests of the 2012 machines. "Actually we had already foreseen the possibility of controversy surrounding 1000cc tests being used for 800s," Webb said, "so the inspector at Ducati's Mugello test was in fact my technical assistant responsible for MotoGP engine sealing and tracking."

Having the man whom Webb describes as "the man in the paddock with most intimate knowledge of what and where each MotoGP engine is" monitoring who was riding which bike and what capacity the bikes the contract riders (in this case, Rossi and Hayden) were riding was Dorna's guarantee that the rules were being respected. The Ducati test was complicated by the fact that while Rossi and Hayden were testing the GP12, Ducati's official test riders Franco Battaini and team boss Vittoriano Guareschi were testing the latest iteration of the GP11, the machine that Rossi is to race at Assen, so to ensure that they were being totally transparent about the test, Ducati invited Webb's assistant into their garage for the full duration of the test. "He stayed there from dawn to dusk every day," Webb told MotoMatters.com, "observing who rode which bike and when. He was given full access to inspect whatever he wanted, with full cooperation from Ducati. This also includes measuring the GP12 engine to confirm that it was not an 800 engine in disguise."

Personally I feel what Ducati has done is well outside what the rules regarding testing were designed for. They have used a factory rider to test parts for this year's bike. Outside the sanctioned 800cc test sessions. The engine capacity of the bike he was riding is irrelevant, as that is not the change that was being tested. But regardless...

My question is though, my understanding is that the engine required changes in order for the new rear end configuration to actually fit, so Rossi will be using a new engine at Assen. I understand this will be his 4th engine for the year. I assume then that the three engines already used will not fit the new chassis, so Rossi must complete the season on his remaining three engines.

My question is, if those three engines are not enough to reach the end of the year (which is quite possible) will Dorna allow Ducati to modify the already used engines to fit the new frame, or will Rossi be forced back to the old chassis. Or do you think they will just put in a new engine and take the grid drop penalty?

As predicted yesterday, Dani Pedrosa won't ride at Assen. He will be replaced by Hiro Aoyama, and Kousuke Akiyoshi goes to Gresini.