Rossi & Marquez

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http://www.sportrider.com/motogp-rossi- ... at-marquez

What do you all say?

I say Rossi is cagey, knows when he can get away with stuff, got caught this time, so he appeals.

[jhwalker]

I'm with Rossi.

[SonicVenum]

Definitely on Rossi's side. Marquez seemed set on messing up Rossi's race/championship. F*ck that little punk. I'm glad he's crashed out so much this season. I'm not saying he's not talented, but involving himself in a championship that he has no part in, is just petty. I read an article that suggested bad blood may have started before the season when Rossi invited Marquez, amongst several other riders, to his VR46 Ranch for a day of flat-tracking. Usually, guys just show up, and race around on the bikes at the Ranch, and have a good time. Marquez showed up with his own Honda, and a Repsol race team to prep his bike, and tweek it throughout the day. He was dead set on being the fastest that day. A fellow rider at the event said both Rossi and Marquez seemed ready to die that day to be the fastest. Woah. They said it rubbed Rossi the wrong way that he would do that. Then go to the race where Marquez crashed himself out on Rossi's rear tire. That was the beginning of this current mess. Marquez still blames Rossi for that, though it was his own fault.

[jhwalker]

I went back and traced the issues for a while, I'm solidly with Rossi too. Disputes add some spice.

[jhwalker]

I went back and traced the issues for a while, I'm solidly with Rossi too. Disputes add some spice.

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They BOTH are small minded vindictive little men.

At Assen, Rossi pulled that trick where he provoked contact with Marquez so that he, Rossi, could legally cut across the astro turf & gravel on the inside the chicane to take the win from Marquez - laughing all the way. That, in my mind was the angry embarrassed moment when Marquez determined that vengeance would be his.

In this last incident at Sepang we saw Marquez going slow and getting in Rossi's way. Small, yeah, but BFD. Rossi's job is to get past him and catch Lorenzo.

But no, small minded Rossi runs up the inside and doesn't go after Lorenzo. Instead, he decides to take the precious time, to intentionally drift wide after his otherwise legal up the inside block pass, to make a point. What point? To stare at Marquez and convey "I'm mad at you?" Is that all? And, unlucky for Rossi's small mind, it went too far - Marquez, running out of road, had to turn in while Rossi refused to tighten, contact, and Marquez fell down. Officials ruled, and ruled correctly. Especially since Rossi was giving Marquez the fish eye while he was drifting wide. Then Rossi, persists with his small mindedness . . . whining and appealing the ruling.

At this point, it's all a diversion from the fact that Rossi was not likely to catch Lorenzo anyway. Now Rossi can blame his loss of the championship on Marquez and officialdom. Not anything he did, or didn't do, it's their fault, not his. Little man consumed by another little man.

[SonicVenum]

I have to disagree with your assessment. At Assen, Marquez came in too hot, slid his bike into Rossi, and forced him to pick up the bike. Luckily, Rossi was able to keep shiny side up going through the gravel for a rightful win.

Where Rossi went wrong is letting Marc get to him in Sepang. He let his anger take control, and he lashed out. That being said, it's obvious Marquez' only goal in that race was to antagonize Rossi. He had the pace to win the race, or at the very least take second, but doing that would leave Vale right behind Lorenzo, or potentially let him battle to get ahead of Lorenzo. The most damage he could do is put himself between Rossi and Lorenzo, or better yet, crash Rossi out (without being so obvious about it, of course). Also, looking at the footage of the contact, Marquez initiated the contact. He didn't have to. There was still room on the track.

Rossi's appeal isn't small minded at all. If he wins his appeal, he starts from his quali position. All he has to do is finish no worse than right behind Lorenzo, if Lorenzo takes 1st or 2nd. If Lorenzo takes 3rd, he only has to finish 6th. That's doable. if he really wanted to just throw his hands up, and say, "It's not my fault," he wouldn't appeal, and just start from the back knowing there'd be no way to get where he needed, short of Lorenzo crashing. The only way for this season to not end with an asterisk by the champ's name is for Rossi to win the appeal, and for both factory Yahamas completing the race without putting plastic to tarmac.

I really hope race control keeps a close eye on Marquez, and if he tries his foolishness again, black flag.

[SonicVenum]

There can be no doubt what Marquez' intentions were at this point. The Spaniards admitted it. Marquez' only goal in Valencia was to ensure Lorenzo would win the championship. Had both Hondas gone by him at the end, which they very well could, Rossi would have #10. Instead, Marc carefully stayed behind all race, making sure Jorge finished P1 with himself in P2, ensuring there would be no hiccups. Under regular circumstances, Marquez would have charged past Lorenzo in the first half of the race, and stayed in front. It's pitiful.

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Yep

Pay back's a bitch.

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How many points did the two or three knockdowns, that Rossi put on Marquez, cost Marquez in points?
Anyone know?
Has any "moto-journalist" done that analysis?

When I look at the video of the knock down at Sepang? or was it Phillip Island?, I see Rossi swing wide to his right to take out Marquez front wheel. Yeah, Marquez' wheel was in the risk zone, easy to take out, but - dynamically - Rossi knew it was going to be there, and he seized the opportunity. Discrete. Front wheels generally lose to rear wheels. Just an overswing to his right, didn't have to do it, but oops, oh so sorry. Ha ha.

Then there was Rossi's "legal" cutting of the course at the last turn at Assen. You recall it, knowing Marquez was coming up the inside, Rossi tightens, provokes contact, that contact legalizes cutting the course, he'd gamed it before, knew what he would do, and executed - contact! - so he instantly flips the bike left while gassing it to lift the wheel across the gravel and legally cuts the chicane to beat Marquez. Ha ha. Legally, points stolen.

Nah, the guy is too clever by half, he crosses the line, he has the smirk of the successful cheat. That's why he got paid back.

Between the two, to draw a line for next year, Marquez did what he did. And, since Rossi the Italian had knocked Marquez out of the running for the championship, why not fly wing man for another Spaniard?

Yeah, pay back's a bitch.