Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo more or less handed team-mate Valentino Rossi the 2009 MotoGP title when he tangled with Nicky Hayden going into the first corner of lap one at today's Phillip Island MotoGP race and crashed out at more than 100mph.
The Spaniard ran into the rear of Hayden's Marlboro Ducati as the pair began to manoeuvre to brake for Doohan Corner. Lorenzo was spat off his YZR-M1 as Hayden did well to stay on as he went across the gravel trap.
The accident eliminated Lorenzo from the race and allowed Rossi to race Hayden's team-mate Casey Stoner for the win. After a close-quarter battle for most of the 27-lap encounter, Stoner took the chequered flag with Dani Pedrosa in a lonely third and Alex De Angelis in fourth.
Rossi now leads Lorenzo by 38 points with only two rounds to go and a potential 50 points up for grabds. Rossi would have to not finish one race and be in a low point scoring position in another for Lorenzo to take the title.
Britain's James Toseland jumped the start and was forced to come in for a ride-through penalty, which dropped him down to 14th with 12 laps where he remained as the chequered flag came out.
More in a minute
