PICTURES: Rossi falls, loses world championship.

This is the moment that Valentino Rossi lost control of his Camel Yamaha - and with it the 2006 MotoGP World Championship.

The reigning five-times title holder began Sunday's Valencia title showdown from pole position and with an eight-point lead over Nicky Hayden, but suffered a poor start - then, in a moment that will go down in MotoGP history, fell from seventh position, on lap five of 30.

Rossi falls - loses world championship, Valencia MotoGP Race 2006
Rossi falls - loses world championship, Valencia MotoGP Race 2006
© Gold and Goose

This is the moment that Valentino Rossi lost control of his Camel Yamaha - and with it the 2006 MotoGP World Championship.

The reigning five-times title holder began Sunday's Valencia title showdown from pole position and with an eight-point lead over Nicky Hayden, but suffered a poor start - then, in a moment that will go down in MotoGP history, fell from seventh position, on lap five of 30.

Rossi rejoined to finish 13th, but third place for Hayden handed the Repsol Honda rider his first world championship by five points over the Italian legend.

"Of course this is a big disappointment for me because to arrive at the final race with an eight-point advantage and then not win the title is a disaster," said Rossi, who had been 51 points behind Hayden with just six races to go. "Basically I made two mistakes today - one was at the start and then the second one was the crash. It has been a very emotional season, with some great moments, some bad luck and now some mistakes. But this is racing."

Read More