de Puniet sorry for Stoner incident

"I'm sorry and even if his reaction was not the best, for me it's all put in the past" - Randy de Puniet

16 May 2011

De Puniet, French MotoGP 2011
© Gold and Goose

Casey Stoner may have been the rider fined by Race Direction, for lashing out at Randy de Puniet after a high-speed near-miss in morning warm-up at Le Mans, but the Frenchman still apologised for his part in the incident.

Repsol Honda rider Stoner, who went on to win the race, punched de Puniet on the shoulder after the slow-moving Pramac Ducati rider moved across in front of him on the back straight.

That resulted in a fine of 5000 Euros for Stoner from Race Direction, but no punishment for de Puniet.

"I'm sorry about what happened this morning with Casey," said Randy. "I was adjusting the brake, thinking that I had no one behind. Then, suddenly, I saw Casey coming behind me at full speed, I tried to leave the road to him, but unfortunately I went where he was pointing. I'm sorry and even if his reaction was not the best, for me it's all put in the past and I have nothing wrong against him."

de Puniet crashed out of Sunday's race, marking his third DNF in four races.