Yamaha responds to Honda, Repsol 'kick' comments
Valentino Rossi's Movistar Yamaha team has issued the following statement, in response to accusations from Repsol and Honda that the Italian kicked Marc Marquez's bike during their Malaysian MotoGP clash.
Both a race day Repsol press release and Monday's statement by HRC vice president Shuhei Nakamoto spoke of the kick being made, as did Marquez himself.
Yamaha point out that a kick was "not proven" by Race Direction (which said TV images were inconclusive) and therefore they "reject the wording used".
Rossi denied kicking Marquez, saying "He touched me with the handlebar on my left leg and it is for that reason he crashed... when I lose the foot on the footpeg Marquez is already down."
Race Direction's official verdict on the incident declared that Rossi: "Deliberately ran wide on Turn 14 in order to force another rider off line, resulting in contact causing the other rider to crash" - but did not mention a kick or that Rossi wanted Marquez to fall.
Either Rossi or team-mate Jorge Lorenzo will be crowned 2015 MotoGP champion this weekend at Valencia. However the aftermath of Sepang is far from over with Rossi appealing his three penalty points to try and avoid starting at the back of the grid.
Dorna and the FIM have summoned all the MotoGP riders to a meeting on Thursday regarding "the events that occurred at the Malaysian Grand Prix and further developments over the following week", cancelling the usual pre-event press conference.
The full Yamaha statement can be seen below:
"We refer to the press release issued by Repsol Media Service on Sunday 25th October 2015, titled "Pedrosa wins and Marquez crashes after unsportsmanlike kick from Rossi", as well as the press release issued by Honda Racing Corporation on Monday 2nd November, titled "Q&A with Shuhei Nakamoto, HRC Executive Vice President".
"Yamaha would like to express its disagreement with the words that have been used to report on the incident between riders Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez.
"Both press releases included words that accuse Valentino Rossi of kicking Marc Marquez's bike that is something not proven by the investigation of the Race Direction.
"We therefore reject the wording used in the said published statements that do not correspond with the findings of the Race Direction.
"Yamaha has no wish to enter into further discussion regarding this unfortunate affair and our desire is to conclude the 2015 MotoGP season in the best possible way.
"We go to Valencia with the clear intention of trying our best to win what we hope will be a memorable final race with all riders and teams competing in an exemplary sportsmanlike manner befitting the top category of motorcycle racing."
