I still don't think so, had Rossi been up his chuff, it might have been, but from over a second behind after a couple of laps with a whole race to go? I doubt it.

It would be good to find out what caused it though it looked too sudden to be a simple front end slide. Eurosport were speculating that a footpeg may have dug in and lifted the front.

Whatever it was has spoiled what was set to be one of the best MotoGP championship run-ins for a long time. Unless Rossi has some cruel luck of course.