October 25, 2015
MotoGP corruption at Malaysia ( Rossi doesnt get disqualified )
MotoGP corruption at Malaysia ( Rossi doesnt get disqualified )
Rossi finished third but due to his connections and fame within the sport, only received three penalty points following a post-race investigation, while other less popular riders would almost certainly have been disqualified.
Honda’s Dani Pedrosa won the race, with Jorge Lorenzo second. The final race takes place in Spain on 8 November.
Rossi now leads Lorenzo by just seven points in the championship.
The incident ( http://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/658191638481600512 ) happened on lap 13 of 20 after Rossi had gestured at Marquez following an overtaking move.
But Rossi’s team mate Lorenzo has called for Rossi to be punished more severely, adding:
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Before the race Rossi, 36, accused Marquez of deliberately trying to impede him during the Australian Grand Prix on 18 October in order to help Lorenzo.
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“He isn’t playing fair. He would prefer Lorenzo to win. He is angry at me for a personal matter.”
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MotoGP race director Mike Webb said: “It’s irresponsible riding causing a crash and for that we have imposed three penalties points on Rossi.”
Rossi’s lead means he will definitely win the title if he can finish in the top two at Valentia, while Lorenzo must finish at least eighth to have any chance of depriving him, If Lorenzo comes 2nd, then Rossi needs to finish 4th, and if Lorenzo finished 3rd, then Rossi can afford to finish 7th in Spain.
Rossi is seeking his seventh MotoGP title, while 28-year-old Lorenzo is trying to win his third.
Malaysian GP result
1. Dani Pedrosa (Spa/Honda) 40 min 37.691 secs
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa/Yamaha) +3.612 secs
3. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) +13.724 secs
4. Bradley Smith (GB/Yamaha) +23.995 secs
5. Cal Crutchlow (GB/Honda) +28.721 secs
Moto GP standings
1. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 312 pts
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa/Yamaha) 305 pts
3. Marc Marquez (Esp/Honda) 222 pts
4. Dani Pedrosa (Spa/Honda) 190 pts
5. Andrea Iannone (Ita/Ducati) 188 pts
Jorge Lorenzo believes his Yamaha team-mate and MotoGP title rival Valentino Rossi should have received a greater penalty for taking Marc Marquez out of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Rossi was only given three penalty points for the collision with Marquez as they fought for third at Sepang, resulting in a back of the grid start for the title decider at Valencia in a fortnight.
Lorenzo, who finished second ahead of Rossi in the Malaysian race and now trails his rival by seven points with 25 available, said Rossi’s punishment was inadequate.
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“He took out Marc, and Marc gets zero points, but he gets 16 points. “I think it’s unfair and maybe because of his name he can get no [worse] decision this time. “It’s unbelievable, I didn’t believe it. “It’s not fair in this kind of corner to put the bike so that the other rider [falls]. “But it happened, race direction made the decision and we have to respect it – but I don’t agree.”
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Asked what he thought would be a sufficient penalty for Rossi, Lorenzo replied:
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Lorenzo also suggested the incident will damage Rossi’s global standing. “Not only me, but a lot of people will lose respect for him as a sportsman,” he said. “He’s one of the greatest riders in history but I think a lot of people will change their opinions.”
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