MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix 2015 Results: Winner, Standings and Reaction

Dani Pedrosa claimed his second MotoGP win in three races at Sunday's controversy-hit Malaysian Grand Prix, where standings leader Valentino Rossi finished third but was penalised for a clash with Marc Marquez.

Rossi's MotoGP lead was cut down to just seven points in the wake of Sunday's result, which saw team-mate Jorge Lorenzo finish second to book a fourth consecutive podium place for the second time this season.

MOHD RASFAN/Getty Images

There was major controversy in Malaysia after Marquez clashed with Rossi in a bid to break into the top places, but he saw his race brought to an early finish after coming off second best to the veteran.

However, it wasn't until after the race that Rossi's punishment was confirmed, via the official MotoGP Twitter account. The Doctor will start the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix in last as things stand, although Yamaha have appealed the decision:

Sepang International Circuit produced another high-octane encounter as the end-of-season drama continued to set up a climactic finish to the 2015 campaign in Valencia on November 8.

LCR Honda's official Twitter account provided a glimpse of Sunday's top finishers, with Britain's Cal Crutchlow managing a very respectable fifth after starting out ninth on the grid:

Here's a look at how Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix affects the overall standings, per the official MotGP website:

Position	Rider	Bike	Nation	Points
1	Valentino ROSSI	Yamaha	ITA	312
2	Jorge LORENZO	Yamaha	SPA	305
3	Marc MARQUEZ	Honda	SPA	222
4	Dani PEDROSA	Honda	SPA	190
5	Andrea IANNONE	Ducati	ITA	188
6	Bradley SMITH	Yamaha	GBR	171
7	Andrea DOVIZIOSO	Ducati	ITA	153
8	Cal CRUTCHLOW	Honda	GBR	118
9	Danilo PETRUCCI	Ducati	ITA	107
10	Pol ESPARGARO	Yamaha	SPA	103
11	Aleix ESPARGARO	Suzuki	SPA	97
12	Maverick VINALES	Suzuki	SPA	92
13	Scott REDDING	Honda	GBR	83
14	Yonny HERNANDEZ	Ducati	COL	53
15	Hector BARBERA	Ducati	SPA	33
16	Alvaro BAUTISTA	Aprilia	SPA	29
17	Loris BAZ	Yamaha Forward	FRA	28
18	Stefan BRADL	Aprilia	GER	17
19	Jack MILLER	Honda	AUS	17
20	Nicky HAYDEN	Honda	USA	16
21	Eugene LAVERTY	Honda	IRL	9
22	Katsuyuki NAKASUGA	Yamaha	JPN	8
23	Michele PIRRO	Ducati	ITA	8
24	Mike DI MEGLIO	Ducati	FRA	8
25	Hiroshi AOYAMA	Honda	JPN	5
26	Takumi TAKAHASHI	Honda	JPN	4
27	Toni ELIAS	Yamaha Forward	SPA	2
28	Alex DE ANGELIS	ART	RSM	2

Rossi entered Sunday's race knowing the 2015 title could be won there and then depending on where team-mate Lorenzo finished, but it was Pedrosa who got the brightest start as he sought to upset the odds.

It wasn't long ago the Honda marvel tied up back-to-back podium finishes at Aragon and Motegi, and Rappler's Ryan Songalia confirmed the Spaniard led the charge early on:

A quarter of the way through Sunday's race and a scintillating battle was developing between the old guard and MotoGP's new blood as Rossi and Marquez locked horns in the duel for fourth place.

Both riders were guilty of showing some signs of frustration, but it was young gun Marquez who ultimately paid the price for his overzealousness. The two collided and it was the Spaniard who saw his race ended early, although questions were raised over whether Rossi kicked out at his opponent:

MotoGP confirmed the incident would be reviewed after Sunday's race, but that left Lorenzo free to make his attempt in hounding down Pedrosa's lead while Rossi was distracted.

Marquez wasn't the only rider to fall by the wayside, either, and that fourth position was proving to be something of a Sunday curse as Andrea Dovizioso also fell in his attempt to crack the podium spots:

It was far from the last-gasp finish fans saw at the Australian Grand Prix, with Pedrosa being able to extend his lead to over three seconds, but the order of the finish nonetheless made for great suspense.

BT Sport acknowledged Rossi's expression at the end of the race, suggesting the Italian may have known he was in trouble in relation to the impending review of the Marquez collision:

It's ultimately disappointing Sunday's race should be tinged by an incident that could well come to have a big impact on the standings and the overall championship, depending on MotoGP's decision.

Should Rossi's punishment stand, it could make a comeback all but impossible on November 8, with Yamaha compatriot Lorenzo now in prime position to go on and claim the 2015 title and his first crown since 2007.