Pedro Acosta losing his Indonesian Grand Prix podium looked a foregone conclusion after the announcement of a post-race tyre pressure investigation - yet instead his second-place finish was confirmed.
The Tech3 Gas Gas rookie had gone through the requisite post-race formalities - parc ferme, podium celebrations and post-race press conference - with a decidedly stony-faced demeanour, seemingly well-aware that his podium was in question.
Yet two hours after the finish it was announced by the MotoGP stewards' panel that no further action would be taken over Acosta's alleged breach.
Tyre pressure monitoring was introduced to MotoGP midway through last season, and breaches on the front tyre have been a constant source of penalties since. Raul Fernandez was penalised for a tyre pressure infringement as recently as Saturday's sprint.
Over a grand prix distance, riders are required to keep the pressure above the prescribed minimum - set at 1.8 bar this season - for a minimum of 60 percent of the laps.
Acosta being placed under investigation meant live monitoring of tyre pressures suggested he didn't hit that limit. The post-race ruling suggested likewise.
However, it was ruled by MotoGP's technical director Danny Aldridge that "no infraction of the regulations occurred".
This was because post-race checks confirmed "the pressure was correct at the beginning of the race" and the subsequent loss of pressure was "proven to be due to [a] leaking wheel rim".
Aldridge's ruling cited Article 2.4.4.9.1 of MotoGP's technical regulations, which among other things gives Aldridge the authority to make, "in consultation" with tyre supplier Michelin, the "final" decision regarding tyre pressure sanctions.
It thus means that the wheel rim explanation was sufficient for Aldridge to declare that Acosta and Tech3 were not "using tyres outside the operating parametres".
Acosta escaping sanction has an indirect impact on the title race, as Martin's points lead over Bagnaia now stands at 21 points coming out of Mandalika - while an Acosta penalty would've made it 17.
Binder also cleared, Nakagami penalised
Two other riders - Brad Binder and Takaaki Nakagami - were also placed under investigation post-race.
"Due to the nature of the post-race technical checks, the results will be published at the next event," the stewards' panel said initially - but decisions were soon published regarding both riders.
"From our data it says we're okay," claimed Binder. "But apparently there's some laps that the sensor read that we weren't in that we were. There were a few of them. So apparently we're fine. Apparently."
When told it could be something positive to take away from an otherwise dispiriting race, Binder joked: "If we're out, bud, who gives a f**k?"
Binder has indeed been cleared - while Nakagami has received a 16-second time penalty, relegating him from 11th to 12th and last.
