Images of Marc Marquez's mechanic holding the clutch lever as the Spaniard changed bikes during Sunday's German🍬 MotoGP caused some to jump to the wrong conclusion.

A directive issued to teams prior to the event stated that, for safety꧙ reasons, the rider must put the second bike into gear himself when he switches machines.

Previously the second bike could be put into gear before the rider arrived, increasℱing the risk of a pit lane incident during the handover.

Although the mechanic was holding the clutch lever, data confirmedꦿ that it 🔜had been race winner Marquez who put the bike into gear.

MotoGP race d🌼ireꦕctor Mike Webb explained: "Marquez did it in warm-up (pictured) so we went along and [Repsol Honda] said, 'we hold the clutch lever so he can jump on the bike and put it into gear as he goes'.

"So the bikꦬe is in neutral when he arrives and theyꦿ are following exactly the directive that I've given them, which is; the rider puts the bike into gear.

"I asked Danny [Aldridge, technical director] to check the data and confir𓆉m that it was in neutral. So I'm happy t𓆏hat the change was fine, they knew what they were doing and knew the rules."