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| - Yamaha MotoGP chief Massimo Meregalli as well as four other staff will sit out this weekend's European Grand Prix after a coronavirus scare, the team said Friday. After a scheduled Covid-19 testing session on Friday afternoon, one of the team members working in Spanish rider Maverick Vinales' crew tested positive, Yamaha said in a statement. "He immediately left the Ricardo Tormo circuit and has started the self-isolation required by the MotoGP official protocol," the team explained. "After a thorough risk analysis, four additional team members, who tested negative but are deemed at risk of contagion, will go into quarantine until Monday. "The four team members who tested negative, including team director Meregalli, will remain in close contact with the team at the track to offer their best support to the staff present." Yamaha added that none of the other staff are deemed to be at risk, nor are Vinales and Valentino Rossi. Friday's announcement came just hours after it was revealed seven-time MotoGP world champion Rossi was now clear of the virus and could race this weekend. The 41-year-old missed the last two races at MotorLand Aragon after having tested positive for Covid-19. Also on Friday, title-chasing Vinales was ordered to start Sunday's race from the pit lane after exceeding the permitted number of engines. Yamaha also revealed that they will not appeal their 50-point deduction slapped on them by the governing body (FIM) for "failing to respect the protocol required for technical changes". dj/dmc
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