Photo: Yamaha-racing.com
Things are getting stranger and stranger in Yamaha's camp as the end of the 2015 MotoGP season seems to be overshadowed by the Sepang incident and what followed after the Malaysian round.
For starters, it appears that Yamaha's title sponsor Movistar, itself a Spanish company, decided to cancel the end-of-season celebrations they had in mind ahead of Sepang. The information as to what led to this decision is scarce and even a bit puzzling at times.
Some sources say that Movistar feels like it was Valentino Rossi that cast the unfavorable light upon the end of the current season. Namely, it may be his declarations in the last round's press conference and the subsequent clash with Marc Marquez that ended with the latter crashing out of the race.
This sounds a bit puzzling, as we already said. The Race Direction admitted that Rossi deliberately chose a different track from the one he normally would. However, the MotoGP body also stated that there was no evidence to accuse Rossi of causing MM93 to crash, nor trying to cause the fall. Likewise, the Race Direction never mentioned Rossi kicking Marquez out of the Sepang race, as Repsol and Honda claim.
The whole Malaysian weekend may have been weird, indeed, but having Rossi as the scapegoat for all that happened is a bit far-fetched. Movistar reportedly feels disappointed, despite Yamaha having won all there was to be won this year. The house of Iwata claimed the Manufacturers' title, the Teams' title and will also win the Riders' title, regardless of who triumphs at the end of the season.
This, however, did not happen in Jorge Lorenzo's case, the same source reports. Even more, the team disapproves with Lorenzo's legal move and his request to testify in front of the CAS. Yamaha reportedly added that they did not see any link between Rossi's case with the FIM and the Spanish rider.
Rossi's new appeal was an individual move, in a matter concerning only him and the FIM. In fact, the denial of Lorenzo's request appears to be founded on the same idea, that he has no part in this case and his testimony is, therefore, irrelevant.
William Favero, Communications & Marketing Manager added that "Yamaha dissociates from the action of Jorge Lorenzo. We were not warned, and that is a matter between the FIM and Rossi. We do not understand. Lorenzo is not part of the facts concerned. We also confirm that Rossi warned us all."
Today we could learn about the decision the Court of Arbitration for Sport made in Rossi's case, and if he will take the start at Valencia from the back of the grid or battle in normal conditions.
Some sources say that Movistar feels like it was Valentino Rossi that cast the unfavorable light upon the end of the current season. Namely, it may be his declarations in the last round's press conference and the subsequent clash with Marc Marquez that ended with the latter crashing out of the race.
This sounds a bit puzzling, as we already said. The Race Direction admitted that Rossi deliberately chose a different track from the one he normally would. However, the MotoGP body also stated that there was no evidence to accuse Rossi of causing MM93 to crash, nor trying to cause the fall. Likewise, the Race Direction never mentioned Rossi kicking Marquez out of the Sepang race, as Repsol and Honda claim.
The whole Malaysian weekend may have been weird, indeed, but having Rossi as the scapegoat for all that happened is a bit far-fetched. Movistar reportedly feels disappointed, despite Yamaha having won all there was to be won this year. The house of Iwata claimed the Manufacturers' title, the Teams' title and will also win the Riders' title, regardless of who triumphs at the end of the season.
Rossi appealing the CAS, Lorenzo's intervention request denied, Yamaha disapproving with the Spaniard
It looks like the recent events, with Rossi appealing the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) amplified the whole thing. According to gp-inside, Yamaha declared that Rossi informed the team before he made his move with the CAS, and they agreed with his intended course of action.This, however, did not happen in Jorge Lorenzo's case, the same source reports. Even more, the team disapproves with Lorenzo's legal move and his request to testify in front of the CAS. Yamaha reportedly added that they did not see any link between Rossi's case with the FIM and the Spanish rider.
Rossi's new appeal was an individual move, in a matter concerning only him and the FIM. In fact, the denial of Lorenzo's request appears to be founded on the same idea, that he has no part in this case and his testimony is, therefore, irrelevant.
William Favero, Communications & Marketing Manager added that "Yamaha dissociates from the action of Jorge Lorenzo. We were not warned, and that is a matter between the FIM and Rossi. We do not understand. Lorenzo is not part of the facts concerned. We also confirm that Rossi warned us all."
Today we could learn about the decision the Court of Arbitration for Sport made in Rossi's case, and if he will take the start at Valencia from the back of the grid or battle in normal conditions.
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