Motorsports News
The MotoGP team said in a statement on Monday that Spaniard Maverick Vinales would be their sole rider at the eastern Italian track.
The 38-year-old will undergo surgery "as soon as possible", his Yamaha team announced in a statement.
Last year, Hamilton had already won the title and his focus was elsewhere. This time he comes on the back of two successive wins and, like Rosberg, seeking a hat-trick.
Vettel, who won his titles with Red Bull, has had a difficult year with Ferrari failing to win a race with only two of 21 remaining.
Rosberg, who has a 19 points lead with two races remaining, knows he will be champion if he can win in Brazil on November 13.
Marquez started second on the grid, after pole starter Rossi, who was his closest championship rival with a 52-point gap.
Honda's Marquez will start from second on the grid with his closest championship rival Rossi standing 52 points behind.
The Briton won his third title, and second with Mercedes, at Austin`s Circuit of the Americas last year when Rosberg started on pole but made a mistake that gifted his team mate the victory.
Hamilton`s behaviour grew increasingly bizarre in Japan, where he battled back to take third after a horror start saw him fall back to eighth.
Runner-up to Hamilton in the overall standings in the last two years, he is not planning to change it now that the title is within reach.
With four race remaining, Force India remain focussed on finishing fourth in the championship.
After being pipped to pole position by Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, Hamilton let rip.
The German`s Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton will start alongside him in second with Kimi Raikkonen locking down third spot for Sunday`s race in his Ferrari.
The combination has made steady progress this year, however, and they go into their home race at the Suzuka track — owned by Honda — expecting to score decent points.
Hamilton, by contrast, has had a tumultuous few days after a blown engine robbed the Briton of victory last weekend.
"The championship is over when the last race is over, 23 points is a lot but you never know."
Mercedes are on course to wrap up their third straight constructors` title on Sunday.
Hamilton trails Rosberg by eight points after the German won the last race in Singapore.
Germany remains uncertain due to Hockenheim`s stated reluctance to host a grand prix other than in alternate years.
Button is 15th in the drivers` championship on 17 points after 14 of 21 races.
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