CRASH DENIES ROSSI FIRST WIN

VALENTINO ROSSI says he must move on from yesterday’s Malaysian MotoGP crash if he is to stand any chance of holding on to third in the riders’ championship.

The Doctor was devastated after crashing out from the lead just three laps from the chequered flag at the Sepang International Circuit, missing out on what would have been his first win of the season.

He slumped to 25 points behind Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, who secured second in the title standings and is now just two points clear of his Movistar Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales.

Rossi said: “I don’t understand what happened, I made a mistake.

“I am devastated. On one side I am happy for the race because it is the best of the season from me at a difficult track for us, and this is very important.

“On the other side it is a great shame. I am very disappointed and it is frustrating.”

Rossi had led from the start and shot into the lead while world champion Marc Marquez had to fight his way up from seventh on the grid after a penalty, hitting second place on lap five.

Rossi managed to keep the Spaniard under a second behind, but made his mistake on the 17th lap of the 20-lap race – handing Marquez another win to seal the constructors’ title for Honda.

Suzuki’s Alex Rins was second and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 of Johann Zarco third, as Vinales took fourth to boost his points tally. Dovizioso’s sixth was enough to secure him the championship runner-up spot.

Rossi now faces a showdown with Vinales for third overall in the final round at Valencia in a fortnight.

“We will just have to see if we’re strong in Valencia,” added Rossi.

“It’s a difficult track for us in general but we are just going to have to try.”