Valentino Rossi has dropped his appeal against the FIM stewards over a penalty received at the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix back in October.
Rossi was handed three penalty points on his license by the FIM stewards after appearing to make contact with Honda rider Marc Marquez at Sepang during a battle over third place.
The incident sparked outrage among some in the MotoGP paddock, but the penalty points were enough to relegate Rossi to the back of the grid for the title decider in Valencia two weeks later.
After having a request for a stay of execution rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Rossi managed to fight his way up to fourth place in Spain, only for Yamaha teammate and title rival Jorge Lorenzo to take the championship after winning on home soil.
Rossi still intended to take his appeal against the stewards’ decision in Malaysia to CAS even with the season over, but it was confirmed on Thursday that the Italian had dropped the case.
“Mr. Rossi has now informed the CAS that he does not wish to continue with his appeal,” read part of a statement from MotoGP.
“Accordingly, the arbitration procedure has been terminated and the FIM decision will continue to remain in force.”
The decision brings an end to one of the most turbulent battles MotoGP has known in recent years, with Rossi accusing Marquez and Lorenzo of colluding to prevent him from winning the title in Valencia.