Valentino Rossi says he hopes to 'fight for the title on equal terms' with his Movistar Yamaha team-mate Jorge💦 Lorenzo, as he awaits a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (⛄CAS) on a request to suspend his Sepang penalty.

Rossi, who leads Lorenzo by seven points heading into this weekend's championship showdown at Valencia, received three penalty points for causing a collision that sent Marc Marquez out of the Malaysian race - and is du🏅e to start last on the grid at Valencia as a result.

To avoid such a setback Rossi has appealed to the CAS to reduce or annul his Sepang penalty - but since such a decis𒆙ion could take months, he has also a☂sked for the penalty points to be suspended until the CAS reaches its final judgement.

Such a "stay of execution" is thus arguably more important than the f♓inal CAS verdict: If the penalty is suspended Rossi can start from hi💟s normal grid spot and, if the CAS later confirms the FIM punishment, he would serve the last place start some time next season instead.

Likewise, if the "stay" is rejected then Rossi will start last on the grid and it will be largely irrelevant whether the CAS confirms or removes the three penalty points at a later date, since the champ﷽ionship 🔯will have been decided.

The CAS expects to announce if Rossi's request for a penalty suspension h🐭as been accepted "noꦑ later than" Friday.

The 36-year-old said he is only focusing on his work on track, but explained he launꦫched the appeal to CAS because he feels he should be able to fight for the titl🌄e on an equal standing with Lorenzo.

The Sepang punishment only meant a back of𝕴 the grid start at Valencia because Rossi already had one penalty point from Misano.

"I'm still waiting to hear the decision of the C♑AS, but I🐈 hope I can do a normal GP to battle and fight for the title on equal terms with Jorge," Rossi said. "In Valencia there will be so many fans and I'm glad for that. I'll try to do my best on the track.

"It will be a very intense weekenܫd and also a very important one. I want to think just about what will happen at the track."

With the post-Sepang fallout still overhanging the MotoGP season finale, Rossi says he wants to produce his own response to the coꦛntroversy on-track by sealing a tenth world ti🥃tle and eighth MotoGP crown.

"My goal is to work at my best capabilities with my team and make the most of every session to get to the race on Sunday 🐓with everything I need to express myself in the best way possible," he added.

Rossi hasn't won the MotoGP title since 2009 but has led this year's standings - barring a brief points tie with Lorenzo after Brno - since a victory in⛎ round one.

The old𝄹est rider on the grid, many believe it is now or never fo🍸r Rossi's tenth world title...