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MotoGP, Lorenzo against Rossi: you don't pass like that!

Valentino: "it's not true, I don't ride dirty". Sparks fly between the two team-mates after the Misano race

Lorenzo against Rossi: you don't pass like that!

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Misano. The whole day. Press conference: Rossi on one side of the table and Lorenzo on the other. A journalist asks for a comment on Valentino's pass on the Spaniard and a small squabble breaks out.

The Doctor explains: “I wanted to try straight away, at Mugello I was left behind and my engine broke. I wanted to do something different here”.

Perhaps Lorenzo does not appreciate the irony and goes on the attack: “it was an aggressive pass, in my opinion a little too much. He didn't need to do it in that way, he could have waited. But this is his style, there are others who are cleaner”.

At that point Valentino interrupts him: it's not true, perhaps you need to watch it again. So what should I have said to about Marquez at Silverstone?

The Majorcan continues: “I don't need to see it again, I was there. If I hadn't stood the bike back up, I'd have crashed”.

Rossi responds: “I don't agree at all. I think that you too have been aggressive in the past”.

After this exchange, the pair return to their respective corners, but then return to the argument.

I want to see the pass again, but I think it was the same as all the others, when Pedrosa passed me, or the 13 that me and Marquez made at Silverstone - he recalls Valentino - I don't like the fact that Jorge says I made a dirty pass”.

Lorenzo retains his opinion: “he has that style, very aggressive. I understand that he doesn't want me to get away, but I am offering my version and he must respect that. Instead he interrupted me while I was speaking, without waiting his turn. He always does that, like when in the conference he starts talking to the rider next to him while another is speaking”.

The quarrel over - for now - the Spaniard talks about the race.

It wasn't my day, I'm not totally happy but not disappointed either, as I reached the podium - he admits - Being autocritical is good because it helps you understand how and where to improve. Pedrosa was faster than both me and Valentino, I was missing one or two tenths. I tried but the rear tyre was sliding. It's not an excuse, Rossi had the same tyres as me and was faster: I was losing in the fast long turn, he was better and I must admit that”.

The tyres seem to have made the difference once more.

I don't think I made the wrong choice, each bike and rider is different and the soft front that Dani used might not have worked for me - he explains - Michelin is improving and I have faith in them, even if there's still work to do on the rear. Again today, from mid-race on I had some vibration but it didn't affect the result. In general, they're not yet as constant as the Bridgestones ”.

Lastly, Lorenzo doesn't hesitate to compliment Dani.

I'm pleased for him, he deserved this win. He's had a difficult time but has never given up - he says - I was surprised to see him lap faster in the race than in qualifying. Pedrosa is one of the four riders with the greatest talent in MotoGP,  he just wasn't totally sorted in recent times and was in a position that wasn't his. People are quick to judge you, to say you're a rider that can no longer win. Dani has proved that he can".

Translated by Heather Watson
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