MOTOGP: Interim points penalties dropped

MotoGP has scrapped the interim penalties for accrued license points that saw Valentino Rossi start last year's Valencia season finale from the rear of the grid.

Penalty points handed to riders for on-track indiscretions stand for a 12-month period. If a rider reaches 10 points in that window, they will be excluded from the next event. That still remains, but penalties of starting the next race at the rear of the grid and then from pitlane when a rider hits four and seven points, respectively, will no longer apply.

Rossi was penalized three points for his clash with Marc Marquez at Sepang last October, taking his tally to four and sentencing him to start the Valencia race last, as he sought to beat Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo to the title.

The change was announced by the Grand Prix Commission following ongoing discussions between the governing body FIM, MotoGP promoter Dorna and the series' manufacturers.

The Commission has also added clauses that "teams and riders must not make statements or issue press releases that are considered to be irresponsible and hence damaging to the championship" but not outlined any possible punishments.

FIM president Vito Ippolito said the public battle over the clash between Rossi and Marquez had "poisoned" MotoGP. Announced by the Commission last month, a new stewards group has also been established to rule on in-race incidents.

Riders will have four days to appeal any penalties handed out by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel.

Originally on Autosport.com