Valentino Rossi Drops Appeal from CAS, Case Now Closed

Valentino Rossi has formally withdrawn his appeal against the three penalty points handed down to him in the clash at Sepang.

The Italian had originally appealed the three points handed down by Race Direction for the incident with Marc Marquez at Turn 14 at Sepang, first to the FIM Stewards, and after the FIM Stewards had rejected his appeal, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

After filing the appeal to the CAS, Rossi then filed an appeal for a stay of the three-point penalty. If that stay had been granted, then Rossi would not have had to start from the back of the grid at Valencia.

However, Rossi’s request for a stay was rejected, and Rossi was left at the back of the grid. Finishing fourth meant he lost the 2015 MotoGP title to his Movistar Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo.

With the 2015 MotoGP title settled, Ross must have felt there was no point in continuing with the appeal. Even if the CAS ruled in Rossi’s favor, all they could have done is reduced the number of penalty points he had been awarded.

That would not have had a material outcome on the 2015 title, and given Rossi’s otherwise near-impeccable record, it is unlikely to have an outcome in 2016.

Rossi still has four penalty points to his name, one picked up at Misano for cruising on the racing line, plus the three from Misano for the breach of section 1.21.2 of the FIM Grand Prix regulations.

Should he incur another three points before mid-September 2016, he could be forced to start from pit lane. That, however, remains unlikely.

With the withdrawal of his appeal, Rossi’s case against Race Direction is now closed, and a line can be placed under the 2015 MotoGP championship.

The debate will no doubt continue among fans and media, but as far as the organizers of the sport are concerned, and the individuals involved, the affair is over and done with.

This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.