Moto2: Champion Morbidelli crowned early as Luthi ruled unfit

Marc VDS rider Franco Morbidelli has been crowned the 2017 Moto2 champion without turning a wheel in anger at today’s Malaysian Grand Prix, after only remaining championship rival Thomas Luthi was ruled out of today’s race with a broken ankle suffered during yesterday’s qualifying at the Sepang circuit.

Morbidelli, who qualified on pole position despite a crash of his own in yesterday’s qualifying session, was going into today’s race with a 29-point lead, only needing to stay clear of his Swiss rival in order to take the crown with one race remaining.

Luthi crashed out during qualifying, fracturing his left ankle in the process and meaning that not only was he forced to miss today’s race but could also have put his MotoGP debut in doubt, due to jump onto the Marc VDS Honda as Morbidelli’s 2018 teammate in two weeks’ time at Valencia for the first time.