MotoGP: Valentino Rossi anger at Spanish ‘carve-up’ as Jorge Lorenzo seals title

Rossi angrily accused Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa of helping their compatriot by not trying to win

Jorge Lorenzo won his third MotoGP world title after a start-to- finish victory in Valencia (AP)

Valentino Rossi hit out at a Spanish carve-up after his Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo won the final round of the season to claim his third MotoGP world crown.

Italian Rossi started in last place after being sent to the back of the grid for a penalty imposed at the previous race in Malaysia, with his title rival Lorenzo on pole position. The championship leader fought back to fourth place by half distance but his hopes of a 10th career title, and eighth in the top category, rested on Honda’s two Spaniards getting past Lorenzo.

In the end, outgoing champion Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa finished second and third and Rossi angrily accused them of helping their compatriot by not trying to win. “I did what I could but it was a strange situation having Marquez as the bodyguard of Lorenzo. It is embarrassing for the sport,” Rossi said. “Hopefully the sport’s authorities will be able to sort it out. It is an ugly end to what has been an attractive championship. It has not been a true championship and this should not happen in sport.”

Rossi said Lorenzo was a deserving champion but he could not understand why Honda would want to see a Yamaha rider win. Marquez said it was ‘a lack of respect’ to suggest he had not tried to win, although he recognised there would be doubters.

Lorenzo, who ended the season five points clear and with seven wins to Rossi’s four, suggested it was to be expected that his compatriots would rather see him win.

“The fact that they knew what I was going for and that they are Spanish has helped me and in another race they may have tried everything to overtake,” said the new champion.

The race itself was far more tame, with Lorenzo leading from start to finish.