Valentino Rossi left Sepang before the post race press conference, the only time in his incredible 329 starts he has done that. His aggressive mind game at the very beginning of the race weekend sent strong signals towards the HRC Garage and particularly to the reigning World champion's box. Everyone around and in Sepang knew the fact that something really serious was going to happen, and it did in a bad way.
Valentino's mind games have always been spot on, which affects the right person in the way he wants to. His tactics with Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri and now Marc Marquez have affected them in a way he expected. Rossi's spat with Sete Gibernau lasted for almost seven years after which they ended their feud, whereas his rivalry with Max Biaggi is still on.
It all started in the pre-race press conference on Thursday, where Valentino Rossi openly criticized Marc Marquez for helping out Jorge Lorenzo in Australia and deliberately slowed him down in order to let Lorenzo break away at the front. Rossi even brought out the time-sheets of Marquez's lap-times which proved the doctor's words were true.
"Marquez Prefers Lorenzo to win the title" -Valentino Rossi
But Marc Marquez denied Rossi's statements, saying "He just slowed down to cool his overheated front tire", and didn't want to be the party pooper in the "Showdown of the Yamaha's"
"I Just slowed down to cool my overheated Front tire" - Marc Marquez
Marquez's statements made the rest believe he was playing fair until today, where the duo engaged in a Fierce battle for three Long laps after which Marquez crashed out owing to contact between them.
Marc Marquez on the crash-
Marquez claims Rossi "kicked" his right handlebar, whereas the helicopter footage I've seen says otherwise. The knee moved after Marc had contact with him and crashed while losing the front. While others tried to stay fair and square talking about this incident, especially Marc's teammate Dani Pedrosa, Rossi's teammate called out for a harsher punishment for his "act", something that might potentially ruin Rossi's Title aspirations.
Valentino Rossi's version of the incident-
This has complicated Valentino's chances of winning his tenth championship in a big way.
- If Jorge wins in Valencia he has to be in second place to clinch his title
- If Jorge Finishes second, he has to finish fourth or higher,
- If Jorge Finishes in Third place, he has to finish 7th or higher.
Given Jorge's run of form and Valentino's starting position, the odds might be still in the favor of Jorge Lorenzo.
There were many more people who criticized Valentino, and almost the same number of people came to his support. But as Mike Webb and co has already expressed their decision about the incident, all that Rossi can hope of is a very strong weekend at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit in two week's time. Given Rossi's ability to bounce back out of nowhere, he might get there, but it's going to be very very tough.
By: Suraj
Valentino's mind games have always been spot on, which affects the right person in the way he wants to. His tactics with Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri and now Marc Marquez have affected them in a way he expected. Rossi's spat with Sete Gibernau lasted for almost seven years after which they ended their feud, whereas his rivalry with Max Biaggi is still on.
*** Pre-race Press Conference at Malaysian GP
It all started in the pre-race press conference on Thursday, where Valentino Rossi openly criticized Marc Marquez for helping out Jorge Lorenzo in Australia and deliberately slowed him down in order to let Lorenzo break away at the front. Rossi even brought out the time-sheets of Marquez's lap-times which proved the doctor's words were true.
"Marquez Prefers Lorenzo to win the title" -Valentino Rossi
*** Marquez, Lorenzo and Iannone at Phillip Island. (Source: MotoGP)
But Marc Marquez denied Rossi's statements, saying "He just slowed down to cool his overheated front tire", and didn't want to be the party pooper in the "Showdown of the Yamaha's"
"I Just slowed down to cool my overheated Front tire" - Marc Marquez
Marquez's statements made the rest believe he was playing fair until today, where the duo engaged in a Fierce battle for three Long laps after which Marquez crashed out owing to contact between them.
*** Rossi and Marquez before today's clash. (Source: Motorsport.com)
Marc Marquez on the crash-
At Turn 14 he passed me on the inside, I sat the bike up, he kept going straight ahead and I saw him looking at me. I didn't know what to do. Then he kicked out at me, knocking my brake lever, and I crashed.
Marquez claims Rossi "kicked" his right handlebar, whereas the helicopter footage I've seen says otherwise. The knee moved after Marc had contact with him and crashed while losing the front. While others tried to stay fair and square talking about this incident, especially Marc's teammate Dani Pedrosa, Rossi's teammate called out for a harsher punishment for his "act", something that might potentially ruin Rossi's Title aspirations.
Valentino Rossi's version of the incident-
I did not want him to crash, that was not my intention, I only aimed to take him off line because I was fed up, then I wanted to take off and escape. We touched, but it is not true that I kicked him; it is he who touched me with his handlebars on my leg, which then slipped from the foot-peg.
This has complicated Valentino's chances of winning his tenth championship in a big way. - If Jorge wins in Valencia he has to be in second place to clinch his title
- If Jorge Finishes second, he has to finish fourth or higher,
- If Jorge Finishes in Third place, he has to finish 7th or higher.
Given Jorge's run of form and Valentino's starting position, the odds might be still in the favor of Jorge Lorenzo.
*** Race director Mike Webb
There were many more people who criticized Valentino, and almost the same number of people came to his support. But as Mike Webb and co has already expressed their decision about the incident, all that Rossi can hope of is a very strong weekend at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit in two week's time. Given Rossi's ability to bounce back out of nowhere, he might get there, but it's going to be very very tough.
By: Suraj