Aleix Espargaro, Pramac Ducati, Catalunya 2010Aleix Espargaro has been demoted four places on the grid for the Catalan Grand Prix for missing out part of the circuit during qualifying.

The Spaniard had taken a career-best eighth place on the grid thanks to a sensational last-minute effort on his Pramac Ducati.

However, following the session, race officials deemed that he had gained an advantage by cutting the course between Turns 1 and 2.

They stripped Espargaro of his quickest lap time from the session, dropping him to 12th on the grid.

The decision promoted Marco Simoncelli's Gresini Honda to eighth and Alvaro Bautista's Suzuki to the rear of the third row.

Colin Edwards (Tech 3 Yamaha) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati) will now start 10th and 11th ahead of Espargaro.