So, just what did happen on the grid at the start of the warm-up lap for last Sunday's French Grand Prix and was the interpretation of the rules a fair one?

As we all saw, Valentino Rossi failed to get away with the rest of the MotoGP field and, as the remaining stars of the premier class streamed round the 4.180-kilometer Bugatti circuit warming their race tires and feeling the adrenaline rush, back on the grid, the following scenario was in play.

On row two sat a stalled Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha M1 motorcycle, a flustered reigning World Champion, four members of his pit crew, and IRTA official Mike Trimby.

Meanwhile, in Race Control, Paul Butler was feverishly thumbing through the rulebook for clarification on what should happen next as millions from around the globe watched the drama unfold before their very eyes.

Trimby held his radio to his ear waiting for the decision from Race Control. And he waited...and waited. The word that should have come never did. Just what is the ruling?

The rule states that a rider may have one mechanic wait beside the grid after the 30- second board is shown before the warm-up lap commences.

If an incident such as a stalled bike occurs, the bike should be removed to pit-lane so further attempts at re-starting the bike may be undertaken. If the bike is then subsequently started, the rider then has 30 seconds to leave the pit lane from the time the last rider on the grid has passed the entrance to the pit lane.

The rider may then leave the pit lane, complete his warm-up lap, and take his original grid position -- IF he passes the safety car BEFORE the end of the lap. If the above scenario is not completed on schedule, the rider has to start the race from the back of the grid.

Last Sunday, the bike was re-started on the grid with four members of Rossi's crew present instead the one allowed by the rules, and the bike was not moved to the pit lane for the re-start attempt. Race Control did not signal the right ruling to the grid and Rossi's bike, once re-started, sped away and rejoined the grid in fourth position.

Clearly, the regulation was not adhered to and, by all accounts, this caused more than a little consternation among the competing teams.

When asked about the situation, Paul Butler indicated that the rule was an old one, from 1992, and he interpreted it as he saw fit at the time. But, why was there need for any interpretation?

The cynics among us may well be asking several questions after seeing this scenario play out:

1. Why are there rules in the first place if they're not going to be adhered to?

2. If a rule is an old one, does this excuse said rule from not being adhered to?

3. If the rule is an old one, why has it not been reviewed and updated?

4. Is it possible that the reigning World Champion was "cut some slack"?

While we don't need to have conspiracy theories running rampant in Grand Prix, it is perfectly natural for such questions to be asked. This is not the first Race Control decision that has caused recent controversy.

At Motegi last season, Makoto Tamada was disqualified from the race after Race Control opined that his overtaking maneuver, under braking, on Sete Gibernau was "dangerous"

At the same race, American rider John Hopkins was punished for a "reckless maneuver" at the start of the race, and was subsequently banned from the following Grand Prix at Sepang.

However, during qualifying at Sepang, Carlos Checa rammed his own teammate after misjudging his braking distances and put them both down on the tarmac. Was this not a "reckless maneuver"?

Why did the same punishment not befall Checa as it did Hopkins?

I'm sure there will be a keen eye from many quarters on the remainder of this season to see if we have consistency from Race Control should any further incidents occur. Interesting, indeed, and the bottom line is, it was NOT a legal start.

Rossi, of course, finished fourth in the race won by Sete Gibernau, leaving Rossi in third place in the championship standings with 51 points behind both Gibernau, who leads with 66 points, and Biaggi in second with 56.

Round four of the MotoGP Championship takes place over the weekend of June 4-6 at Mugello, Italy. Stay tuned, even during the warm-up lap.