Photo: Facebook capture
Spanish automotive lubricant manufacturer and Honda title sponsor in MotoGP Repsol is making threats that they could decide to leave the premier class. The reasons they invoke are Rossi's "premeditated" and "unsportsmanlike" kick at Marquez last Sunday at Sepang.
This sounds painfully similar to the threats Honda made years ago when the spec ECU and, later, spec software came into the discussion. Repsol is a Spanish company, both HRC's riders are Spanish, and many of the members of both Marquez' and Pedrosa's crews are Spanish, so the declaration and inherent support for MM93 are easy to understand.
The Dorna official adds that the footage Dorna analyzed only shows the Italian rider running wider than usual, a thing that he also admitted. Marquez is once more not breaking any rules but rides unnaturally aggressive, compared to the rest of the season. Alonso says that it is obvious that MM93 is the one hitting VR46 in the leg, apparently knocking Rossi's foot off the peg, according to insella.
MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb also refrained from mentioning anything about the alleged kick. If it were the case to consider the existence of the kick, we believe that Webb's official declaration would contain such references.
On the seventh lap of the race, with Marquez and Rossi immersed in a battle for third place that involved several overtaking moves between the two, the Italian - in an absolutely intentional action - dealt an unsportsmanlike kick to the Repsol Honda rider that knocked him to the ground.
Although Marquez was, fortunately, able to escape unharmed from the attack, for Repsol the conduct of Rossi is absolutely unacceptable because it endangered - in a premeditated and unsportsmanlike manner - the safety of the Repsol Honda team rider.
Repsol considers this an unsportsmanlike act incompatible with the values of sport and competition. Without these values, it would not make sense for Repsol to participate in the sport as a sponsor, " motorsport reads.
Now, some Honda fans might get mad at me but this might simply be traditional bullying coming from the same direction periodically. The championship could suffer if Honda retired, but with contracts still standing, we sort of doubt they are ready for such a bold move.
As for Repsol retiring, they are not the first and not the latest title sponsor to call it quits. And despite spending two decades together, a brand such as Honda CAN find another sponsor if they want. More on this matter in tomorrow's editorial.
Meanwhile, a Facebook profile listed as "Honda Repsol Motogp" and bearing a "Company" tag under it listed decals in Rossi's font reading "The Idiot." We can't confirm whether the profile has connections with Repsol, but we're ready to swear the decals don't come from Dostoievkski fans.
We'll leave judging how lovely and sportsmanlike this is to your appreciation.
The kick that was not
What is hard to understand is that Repsol has not learned what Dorna's Javier Alonso told to a Spanish TV station, Cadena Cope. Alonso said that we cannot speak about a kick as it was first rumored and claimed by team Repsol Honda.The Dorna official adds that the footage Dorna analyzed only shows the Italian rider running wider than usual, a thing that he also admitted. Marquez is once more not breaking any rules but rides unnaturally aggressive, compared to the rest of the season. Alonso says that it is obvious that MM93 is the one hitting VR46 in the leg, apparently knocking Rossi's foot off the peg, according to insella.
MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb also refrained from mentioning anything about the alleged kick. If it were the case to consider the existence of the kick, we believe that Webb's official declaration would contain such references.
Several excerpts from Repsol's statement are reproduced by motorsport and we will also bring them to you
"Dani Pedrosa achieved a great victory today in the Malaysian Grand Prix - a win that was unfortunately overshadowed by the unacceptable and unsportsmanlike conduct of Valentino Rossi against Repsol Honda Team rider, Marc Marquez.On the seventh lap of the race, with Marquez and Rossi immersed in a battle for third place that involved several overtaking moves between the two, the Italian - in an absolutely intentional action - dealt an unsportsmanlike kick to the Repsol Honda rider that knocked him to the ground.
Although Marquez was, fortunately, able to escape unharmed from the attack, for Repsol the conduct of Rossi is absolutely unacceptable because it endangered - in a premeditated and unsportsmanlike manner - the safety of the Repsol Honda team rider.
Repsol considers this an unsportsmanlike act incompatible with the values of sport and competition. Without these values, it would not make sense for Repsol to participate in the sport as a sponsor, " motorsport reads.
Now, some Honda fans might get mad at me but this might simply be traditional bullying coming from the same direction periodically. The championship could suffer if Honda retired, but with contracts still standing, we sort of doubt they are ready for such a bold move.
As for Repsol retiring, they are not the first and not the latest title sponsor to call it quits. And despite spending two decades together, a brand such as Honda CAN find another sponsor if they want. More on this matter in tomorrow's editorial.
Meanwhile, a Facebook profile listed as "Honda Repsol Motogp" and bearing a "Company" tag under it listed decals in Rossi's font reading "The Idiot." We can't confirm whether the profile has connections with Repsol, but we're ready to swear the decals don't come from Dostoievkski fans.
We'll leave judging how lovely and sportsmanlike this is to your appreciation.
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