I've just had a look at Rossi's Valencia record on the back of what the MotoGP commentators have been saving for a few weeks now. You'd think by the way they were talking, he may as well not bother turning up. It's actually not that bad on the big bike. Of course he's never had to start at the back of the grid, but if anybody is capable of coming through a field, it's Rossi. Also, what if it rains? What will his practice / qualifying strategy be if it makes no difference where he finishes. He'll certainly be motivated. This may have actually set the season up to be even more exciting. Rossi's Valencia record 2002 - 2005 - 2 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd 2006 - 2014 - 2 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd, plus others
Rossi (and Iannone) was right about MM holding them up at PI. MM had great pace at Sepang - yet chose to hang around Rossi being an annoying wasp and generally mucking Rossi's lines and rhythm up. MM is not in the championship title race - so why even bother unless it's just to hold Rossi up? MM rode like a total twat today and should have been penalised but it's so difficult to 'prove' isn't it? I too don't think Rossi meant to make MM bin it - what do you do if you're in a corner and another racer is leaning on you? You crash or you stick your knee into their bike to try and lift them away from you - that's the choice and that's what racers do. MM was totally out of order and it's a shame this has gone so badly for Rossi. I think Rossi was like "will you just f*ck off mate?" several times leading up to that incident yet MM carried on with his tricks. That is unsporting behaviour and unacceptable at this level. Rossi fights back against it and everyone now hates him for it? How much patience do you think Rossi should have? How much patience would any of us have in we were in Vale's position putting up with that kind of crap? So Valencia? Rossi has to start from the back again. Afaict if JLo comes 3rd (behind the Hondas - although MM would probably allow JLo past) the I think Rossi has to finish sixth? Rossi could very easily finish sixth from the back of the grid and I hope he wins the title. For MM to be directly trying to influence the championship result in this way is not on at all.
Yes 2nd and 4th would be Lorenzo winning. Rossi isnt great at Valencia and obviously has history when he led Hayden going into the race and fell off which meant Hayden won the championship. Before Malaysia I couldnt see Rossi winning and now it really would take an incredible race starting from the back.....
yes anything can happen,although Valencia is not the easiest place for overtaking,i don't mind Lorenzo and would be happy for him if he took the title, ive read his book and he seems a decent guy just doesn't have the charisma of Rossi..they are all heros to me!
MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb: The Marquez-Rossi feud had been simmering since the Italian slammed the Spaniard in Thursday's pre-event press conference, claiming Marquez had tried to help Lorenzo at Phillip Island. “We weren't really concerned with [Marquez's] Phillip Island race, especially given what Marc said about having problems with his front tyre, then things came back and he went as fast as he could and won the race," Webb said. “So it's hard to understand that was a deliberate attempt to slow Rossi down. We didn't see it that way. “I have a different opinion about today's race. I think he [Marquez] was doing something like that, but many riders in many classes do the same thing and there isn't a rule against it.” MotoGP News - MotoGP Race Director explains Rossi punishment
I agree. That slo mo clearly showed MM accelerate and head but VR's knee. Since when was running someone wide, looking at them or not, against the rules ?
I think, gentleman's agreement, all other riders pull over and let Rossi storm past them before the first turn. Then it's just down to the racing and a big FU to game playing MM
How is he influencing it in a worse way by NOT interfering with the championship leaders last 2 races?
By letting Rossi past to follow Lorenzo would be unsporting. Marquez has a duty to race as fast as he can. The championship will take care of itself. Marquez has no duty to stop racing as fast as he can now that he can't win the championship. I didn't hear anybody moaning about Marquez overtaking Lorenzo on the last lap a week ago.
What they are getting at though is that he was faster than Rossi. He could have sat between JLo and Rossi but chose to drop back and battle. That makes them both slower so JLo gets away. That's what wasn't fair. Him staying out of it would have been for him to ride the best he could to achieve the best result for him and his team... 3rd, just behind JLo. Rossi may well have found the pace to catch them both but then at leat that would have been his reward for pressing on. A fair reward.
If MM didn't hit the deck, the way he was riding and his "bromance" with the dummy spitting one, he would have said his tyre give way mid corner later in the race, resulting in taking rossi out.
My big problem with MM is he didn't once fight back against Jlo when he went past. He was determined to have a fight with Rossi and ruin any chance Rossi had to catch Jlo.
if rossi hadn't made the remarks it might have been a different situation,i don't blame marc for getting annoyed at rossi if it wasn't true,maybe he was trying to hold him up maybe he wasn't.. still no excuse
