Rossi misfortune gives Marquez win

Sepang – World champion Marc Marquez (right) fought his way from seventh place on the starting grid to win the Malaysian MotoGP yesterday, as Valentino Rossi crashed out while leading four laps from the end.

Suzuki’s Alex Rins came in second after overtaking Yamaha rider Johann Zarco, who finished third, in the final stage of a hardfought race at a baking Sepang.

Italian star Rossi, a nine-time world champion who has struggled recently, appeared on course for his first win in Malaysia since 2010 after a strong start from second on the grid put him firmly in the lead.

But Honda’s Marquez, who won the world title last month for the fifth time, methodically fought his way up through the pack after beginning near the back.

The Spaniard, who qualified in pole position but was hit with a six-place grid penalty for impeding another rider, made it to second place and was starting to close the gap on Rossi, 39.

It looked like the final stage would be a classic battle between the two MotoGP titans.

But as he rounded a sharp turn on the 16th lap, Yamaha rider Rossi leaned over too far and tumbled off his bike – effectively handing victory to his 25-year-old foe.

Rossi, who has won at Sepang on five previous occasions, got back on his bike but only managed to finish a lacklustre 18th.

Marquez cruised to a comfortable victory in 40min 32.372 sec, with Rins and Zarco left far behind battling it out for second place.

In the Moto2 class, Italy’s Francesco Bagnaia won the world title while Jorge Martin from Spain was crowned world champion in the Moto3 category. –