Argentina MotoGP: 'Nothing crazy' - under fire Marquez defends Argentina actions
'In my career I never, never, never go straight to one rider thinking that he will crash' - Marc Marquez.
When Marc Marquez backed out of using slick tyres on a damp track during qualifying in Argentina, it was part of a plan to take less risks after 27 falls last season:
"This year I'm trying to avoid the risk, avoid crashing," he said.
The Spaniard was even asked if he was becoming boring and sensible...
No-one asked that question after Sunday's race, where Marquez received three separate penalties in a jaw-dropping sequence of mishaps and controversy...
Marquez stalls on the grid!hit harder by Danilo Petrucci than by Marquez.
The Rossi Incident: 30-second Penalty
Such was Marquez's pace that he still caught seventh place Valentino Rossi by lap 18, only to shockingly collide with the Italian in a carbon copy of the Espargaro incident.
But while Espargaro stayed upright, Rossi hit the deck after running onto the wet grass.
"With Valentino and I didn’t think I made anything crazy," Marquez said.
"I mean I was in [the corner] you need to understand the track conditions. Of course the line was dry, but I hit a wet patch, locked the front, released the brakes - okay I had the contact [with him], I tried to turn, and then when I saw he crashed I just tried to say sorry [wave].
"But if you check, Zarco with Dani, Petrucci with Aleix… I mean today was quite difficult. But doesn't matter, I did my 100% and of course a tricky Sunday."
Given the history between Marquez and Rossi, it was a stunning chain of events - and a role reversal of their infamous Sepang 2015 collision, with Marquez looking back at his opponent on the ground as he rode away.
Does Marquez fear the incident will reignite all of the controversy?
"Honestly speaking I don't care, I'm just focussed on my box and I know what happened. Of course today I did a few mistakes - a few of those mistakes were from Race Direction and a few were mine. And I recognise and will try to improve for the future.
"I think I did everything well and just I'm very very happy for the race because the pace was very good. But you know about the rest, I just try to focus and push always 100%. Valentino pushes a lot, but he was also in the past 25-years-old and everybody will remember."
The four-time MotoGP champion went on to catch and pass Rossi's team-mate Maverick Vinales for sixth, before being given a 30-second post-race penalty by Race Direction for the Rossi clash, dropping him to 18th.
Rossi remounted to finish in 19th.
Marquez, accompanied by his manager Emilio Alzamora and team boss Alberto Puig, attempted to apologise to Rossi after the race, but were instructed to leave in no uncertain terms by the Italian's entourage.
A furious Rossi later claimed that Marquez has 'destroyed our sport', has 'no respect for our rivals' and makes contact deliberately 'hoping you crash'.
"In my career I never, never, never go straight to one rider thinking that he will crash," responded Marquez. "Always I try to avoid. Of course, sometimes when you overtake it is closer, sometimes it is more clear.
"Today what happened with Valentino was a mistake, a consequence of the track conditions because I locked the front. But, in my career, I think what he says about me is wrong."
