MOTOGP Race Director Mike Webb has explained Race Direction’s decision to penalise Valentino Rossi after his clash and Marc Marquez’s subsequent crash at the Malaysian Grand Prix. 

After the on-track battle, clash and then crash between Rossi and Marquez, MotoGP’s Race Director has explained why they have come to the decision to give the Italian three penalty points and to start at the back of the grid for the final race. 

‘The decision is that Race Direction has imposed three penalty points on Valentino Rossi for irresponsible riding, that is, deliberately causing contact,’ said Webb.

‘Deliberately running wide in a corner in order to try and force another rider off line. The result was a crash and so it’s irresponsible riding causing a crash and for that we have imposed three penalty points on Rossi.

‘It looked like we were going to have a great race, but unfortunately it ended in an incident that’s controversial. I have to say that the Movistar Yamaha team have appealed against Race Direction’s decision, so now that appeal will be heard by FIM stewards.’

Speaking about how the decision was made, Webb explained: ‘We listened to both riders; our opinion was that there was some fault on both sides, but as far as the rulebook goes Marquez did not make any contact, did not break any rules as such, but we feel that his behaviour was causing problems to Rossi who reacted. Unfortunately he reacted in a way that is against the rules.’

Rossi’s Movistar Yamaha team did appeal the penalty, but it has since been rejected. The 2015 Championship title is now almost impossible for Rossi to claim unless his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo crashes out of contention at Valencia.