CAS rejects Lorenzo 'intervention' in Rossi appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected a request for Jorge Lorenzo to participate in team-mate and title rival Valentino Rossi's penalty appeal.

Rossi, who leads Lorenzo by seven points heading into this weekend's championship showdown at Valencia, is seeking to have his Sepang penalty reduced or annulled.

The Italian received three penalty points for causing a collision that sent Marc Marquez out of the Malaysian race - and is due to start last on the grid at Valencia as a result.

To avoid such a setback Rossi has also asked the CAS to suspend his penalty until they reach a final judgement, which could take months. If the penalty is suspended, but the CAS later confirms the FIM punishment, Rossi would serve the last place punishment some time next season instead.

Given the title implications, Lorenzo sought to be involved in the hearing. The CAS did not explain why it rejected his request but it is thought to be simply because he was not directly involved in the Rossi-Marquez incident.

Here is the full CAS statement about the Lorenzo request #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/P4d1ykXUF6-- Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) November 3, 2015

A subsequent statement issued by Lorenzo's management explained that the intention of the request had been to make sure the CAS understands the impact their decision could have on the world championship outcome and therefore Lorenzo.

The statement added that, although the request was rejected, the CAS has accepted unspecified additional information supplied by Lorenzo's lawyers. Lorenzo's manager Alberto Valera said the request had been a "moral obligation" and that they respect the decision already reached by Race Direction and the FIM.

A verdict on Rossi's request for "a stay of execution" on his penalty, which would allow him to start from his normal qualifying position on Sunday, is still due by Friday.

Interestingly, it seems that the approaches by both Rossi and Lorenzo to the CAS were made independently of Yamaha.