Rossi appeals Valencia penalty

Rossi received three penalty points for his collision with the Honda rider during last Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, triggering a rear-of-grid start for the season finale in Valencia.

In his title fight with Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi leads by seven points but declared the penalty meant he had "no chance" of winning an eighth top-tier championship.

The Italian has taken his case to the CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, which has a history of resolving high-profile sporting legal cases.

"In appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Mr Rossi seeks annulment or reduction of the penalty," motorcycle racing's governing body confirmed in a statement.

"He further requests stay of execution of the decision in accordance with Article R37 of the Code of Sports-Related Arbitration."

A date for the hearing has not been disclosed.

News of the appeal comes less than 24 hours after FIM president Vito Ippolito said the row had "poisoned the atmosphere around the sport".