Marlboro Ducati's Valentino Rossi finished the 2011 MotoGP season tied on points with his old friend Marco Simoncelli who was honoured with a massive tribute at the Valencia track today.

The Doctor had wanted to put on a special T-shirt for a lap at the end of the race but a first-corner crash involving the nine-time world champion, team-mate Nicky Hayden, Alvaro Bautista and Randy De Puniet put paid to his plan.

“There’s really nothing to say about today, other than that I’m sorry beyond measure not to have been able to put on Sic’s T-shirt for the lap of honour. It’s truly a shame. I started well and all the conditions were in our favour for having a nice race, but we were unfortunate and received no points here either. We finish the season tied with Sic, with him ahead of me in the standings. I guess that’s my tribute to him," said Rossi.