To simplify the situation, here is a timeline of what has happened, and what happens next:
After the collision at Sepang, Race Direction imposed a penalty of three penalty points on Valentino Rossi. Those points brought Rossi's total to four, meaning he must start Valencia from the back of the grid. Rossi appealed against the decision by Race Direction to the FIM Stewards. The FIM Stewards upheld the decision by Race Direction, meaning that the three penalty points stand. Rossi has appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), who will take between 6 and 12 months to hear the case. Because the penalty will affect the outcome of the 2015 championship, Rossi has appealed for the penalty to be suspended until the CAS makes its final ruling.
If the CAS suspend the penalty, Rossi will start the Valencia race from the position in which he qualifies.
If the CAS refuse to suspend the penalty, Rossi will start the Valencia race from the back of the grid.
The CAS will give a final ruling on the case once the hearings are finished, at some point 6 to 12 months in the future.
No appeal is possible against the ruling of the CAS, unless at some point, the whole procedure is found to have breached Swiss law.
In a further twist, the CAS rules allow third parties to be involved in the case. Theoretically, that would allow Jorge Lorenzo, or even Marc Marquez to get involved in the case. As the current situation has already devolved into a PR disaster for Yamaha, having Lorenzo involved would only make things worse.
CAS zaseda 6. Novembra