Dani Pedrosa wasn't delighted to be on the receiving end of some harsh passes by Jorge Lorenzo at Valencia, but understood the title contender's 'go-slow' tactic🀅s - and says he should have done the same at the previous Motegi round as well.

L𝕴orenzo needed to win Sunday's s♏eason finale with Pedrosa's title leading Repsol Honda team-mate Marc Marquez outside the top four.

As a result Lorenzo held up the field as much as possible, with Pe꧋drosa initially heading a seven🦋 rider queue behind the #99 Yamaha.

But knowing that he couldn't afford to lo▨se the race, reigning double champion Lorenzo brutally retaliated whenever P꧅edrosa made a pass for the lead. Contact was made on several occasions, with Lorenzo bumping Pedrosa wide on lap 10 of 30.

"Already from the first lap I thought I can go in front and try to be faster than Jorge, but every time ♒he was ready to fight back," said Pedrosa. "When I tried to pass him a couple of times I opened the door a little and he always quickly got back in font.

"I tried to change my places for overtaking, so he couldn't fight back, but he pushed me on the side a little a couple of times. The last time he really touched me hard. I went completely out of the track and almost crashed trying to get back [picture꧑d]."

That incident, which Race Direction felt was strong enough for in🐭vestigation, saw Pedrosa drop to fifth place before working his way back to 𝓰second ahead of Marquez.

"Obviously Jorge's strategy was clear a♕nd I understand. I was trying to go in front and he was fighting real strong. It was 🌌a good battle. I had a couple of touches from behind and had to pick up the bike. I had no other option."

Nevertheless, Pedrosa stated: "I think this strategy from [Lorenzo] was good, but he should🧜 have already been thinking like this in Motegi."

Lorenzo had won the penultimate round in Japan, with Marquez second and Pedros🍸a third.

Marquez claimed the title by just four points.