Two incidents coloured the motorsport landscape on Sunday; one between teammates and the other between a championship contender and a thorny adversary.
Much was made of Nico Rosberg’s hat-throwing antics in the pre-podium greenroom at Texas, but little of the event that sparked the outburst.
That Lewis Hamilton should force Rosberg off-track at turn one – having made no attempt to steer left – almost seemed admissible given his command over his garage mate in the championship standings.
Mind you, being given the green light to do likewise just 18 months prior at Spa suggests that catalyst has shaped the lay of the land as far as that rivalry is concerned.
The ‘other’ incident of course was happening halfway around the globe in Sepang. Fuelled by pre-race suggestions from Valentino Rossi that Marc Marquez would assist compatriot Jorge Lorenzo in beating him to the title, meant the Ross-Marquez on-track duel was always going to end in tears.
But implying that a rider as canny as Rossi would make such an amateurish manoeuvre in taking out Marquez negates all the plaudits lumped onto the Italian for his shrewdness and skill – usually by the same commentators currently making an about face.
After deliberations had been made, MotoGP race director Mike Webb stated he wasn’t “going to quote what the riders said in the hearing”, but painted a rough picture of events.
“What we saw it would appear to be a deliberate move on Rossi’s part to push Marquez off the track, or push him wide,” Webb began.
“We actually believe there is fault on both sides. Valentino said it was clear to him that Marc was deliberately slowing down the pace and making it difficult for Valentino to race. That he deliberately ran wide in the turn in order to give himself an advantage in order to get away from Marquez.”
Let’s be clear. At no point was Marquez forced off track. Rossi did, however, make it overwhelmingly clear that there was no chance of his opponent turning in until he did, therefore benefitting from a better run out of the turn – again an acceptable form of race-craft. This in-turn frustrated Marquez, who forced the issue.
“Despite what Marquez said we think he was deliberately trying to affect the pace of Valentino,” Webb added. “However he didn’t actually break any rules. Whatever we think about the spirit of the championship, according to the rule book he didn’t make contact. His passes were clean. He rode within the rules.
Under this rational, one, with functional optics, would also have to determine that Rossi too rode within the rules – if not in the spirit of battle – given that at no point did the trajectory of Rossi’s steering change during the incident. Yes, he slowed Marquez down, but it was the Spanish rider that made two lunges at the Yamaha – the second triggering contact, as opposed to a phantom kick by Rossi.
“Rossi’s evidence is that his foot came off the foot-peg as a result of the contact,” Webb continued. “From all the video evidence there is no clear shot that definitely shows that his foot slipped off the foot-peg because of contact or that he deliberately kicked. I don’t have that as a ‘smoking gun’ if you like.”
What’s more disturbing, however, is Webb’s explanation as to why Rossi received three penalty points – not more or less.
“It’s a precedent” Webb explained. “The last time this happened where a rider deliberately made a manoeuvre that ended up in a crash was at Jerez this year [Karel Hanika against Juanfran Guevara]. In that case we awarded five penalty points because the rider [Hanika] admitted he did it deliberately and it was as a result of him being frustrated with the other rider.”
So a sliding scale penalty system has been adopted from an admission of grievance, rather than who initiated contact. If Marquez’s intention was to ‘gaslight’ Rossi – then I’d say it worked, not on Rossi, but on those prone to jump to conclusions.
Rosberg was strung out by his own team at Spa last year for executing a similar move to what Marquez did at Sepang – despite no official sanction from the governing body.
The irony of course is that Hamilton is the one getting rapped over the knuckles – by his own team it should be noted – for the facsimile incident at Texas last weekend. Why? Because when there’s no championship at stake, tokenistic gestures tend to come easy in calmer waters.
MotoGP will certainly be encountering some rough seas for the next few weeks, with one very shaky hand on the tiller.
Jacko
Guest
I guess its not against the rules for Rossi to go slow until Lorenzo has caught him up. Then if a racing incident happens then bad luck. Rossi is leading so if Loozerenzo goes down ( no not on Marques but on the track) then Rossi wins
Michael Lamonato
Expert
Mate, I'm no-one's fanboi/y. The fact of the matter, so far as can be reliably ascertained, is that Rossi didn't kick Marquez of his bike. There is not video footage that can prove it. Maybe he did, but that would be an extreme and unlikely reaction from an experienced rider. Far more likely, again, is what Mike Webb concluded: that Rossi forced an accident by running Marquez wide because he expected the Spaniard to ride off track rather than force the issue. I'm not arguing Rossi isn't at fault, but people are so keen to see what they want to see if they're pro-anti Rossi that all rationality leaves the argument. Maybe in this situation Rossi's stature actually had the sport finish on a correct decision. If it were the other way around (title fight aside) maybe Marquez would've been immediately disqualified, but that would've been the wrong decision again. For sure this crash was more than a racing incident, but it is far from Rossi punting off a rival. Also, blaming Valentino for having fans is hardly an argument, no matter how rabid they might be. Until he starts booing other riders himself, it's not an argument — unless you're prepared to call Mark Webber a bad sportsman because the Australian crowd used to boo Sebastian Vettel.
Stumpy
Roar Rookie
Well you've completely misread me then haven't you . I love the entertainment that Rossi has bought to the show but he has been spoon fed the best from the very start of his career. He acts like a n entitled brat when things don't all go his way. His actions just highlighted this part of his nature. And his rabid fanboi's have become a blight on the sport and stiffle any critical debate. I love the sport and the great riders and machines but I don't idolize them blindly. He kicked Marquez off anyone other then Rossi would have been DQ'd. Call me what you like that's the fanboi way maybe you should look to the mirror first.
Trent Price
Roar Guru
Not sure if Loris was on the panel, but went on record a month ago saying he thought Lorenzo was mentally more fragile than Rossi.
Bennet
Guest
The facts are, Marquez deliberately slowed Rossi down for at least two races, Rossi gives professional and safe courtesy warnings and only slows him down in one corner. It was Marquez who leant into Rossi from the outside making deliberate contact and loses contact with his own Bike - For Rossi to penalised for this is a Gross miscalculation - Has the MotoGP Race direction gone MAD ! They say Marquez didn't break rules? what about deliberate contact? there may be no rule for slowing Rossi down to influence a championship but its not written he can't throw nails down behind him either, doesn't matter its COMMON SENSE. The thing they are missing as well is we the paying public have been cheated out of a fair championship that we paid to see on the proviso it would be fair. How many people would not pay the Price of Race tickets to P.I and Sepang, Phone Apps and Foxtel Subscriptions knowing MotoGP would not support a fair championship? Look out next year MotoGP for free-falling revenues and especially when Rossi leaves the sport earlier. MotoGP the sport is the loser, we the fans are the losers - Rossi gave us so much and now gets hanged by Race Direction when common sense and the spirit of the Sport are ignored. Disgraceful
SM
Guest
I've got minimal sympathy for Rossi. I'm of the opinion that he's had this coming for years. On another point, I read that Capirossi was on the panel deciding on Rossi's punishment. Or have I got that wrong? I'm guessing they have forgotten about his hideous assault on Harada all those years ago. Something that I will never forgive him for. Glad to see that Rossi at least overtook his starts record.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
Rossi apologists, Rossi haters — I think you've proven there's no difference!
Stumpy
Roar Rookie
Rossi apologists (fanbois) will as always claim he's done nothing wrong. Rossi acted like a dog and his fans act even worse there is no defense for what he did. Rossi has hard passed pushed people wide and off track throughout his career and not cared for one second for the welfare or outcome for the other rider involved as long as he got his result. Rossi has had every advantage in his career now age and a bit of luck (the talented riders have stayed healthy) and he might not get that one last championship. The punishment was pathetic and shows what a farce the sport has become he should have been DQ'd
Jacko
Guest
At the last second Marquez accelerates into Rossi and then goes down. Appeal will overturn stupid penalty and Rossi will start from his qualifying position. Its rather strange that Marquez lets Lorenzo past easy then fights with Rossi. Pre-planned from what I saw and obviously he is jelous at Rossi's ability. Marquez is an amazing rider but sometimes his belief in his ability exceeds the ability of his bike. He came into the top tier with a hothead record and just hates to lose. great rider but lost it on this occasion
Simoc
Guest
Rossi has been pushing up under riders for years and getting away with it. A soon as the favor is returned he squeals. If Marquez wanted Lorenzo to win he wouldn't have done such a massive lap in the Oz GP to beat him. Hopefully Lorenzo wins the title. Rossi great record will always be there. His mindset is poor at the moment.
nordster
Guest
Total dive from Marquez haha ....coming down on god's i mean vr46's side on this one. Those bikes are pretty heavy, so Marc is a total lightweight if that tap sent him to the floor. Rossi was protecting himself as Marquez cut across when Vale slowed down. That was his only real crime worth punishing, slowing down deliberately to impede which is technically not ok... But the kick or tap or whatever was a protective reflex....of course:) All hail vr46