Jorge Lorenzo: Marc Marquez puts MotoGP rivals at risk
Jorge Lorenzo says Marc Marquez's aggressive riding puts his MotoGP rivals at risk
Marquez was criticised by team-mate Dani Pedrosa after the Honda riders brushed at Aragon - the result of Marquez outbraking himself at the Bus Stop - which damaged Pedrosa's traction control system and led to his violent high-side exit.
Lorenzo believes the incident, when viewed through the context of several misdemeanours - including his own final-corner clash with Marquez at Jerez - shows the world championship leader has become a danger to other competitors.
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"The mistake was not as serious as others, but if you sum them up then I say that he is a very aggressive rider who puts himself and others at risk," Lorenzo told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"The crash was unfortunate, but it's not the first time that Marc almost crashed into [Pedrosa]: it has happened at Montmelo, at Misano, at Aragon.
"Logically [Pedrosa] is angry."
Lorenzo called for MotoGP's stewards to take a harder line over future incidents, saying that a 2005 race ban helped him rein in his own past recklessness.
"In 2005 I crashed twice into [Alex] de Angelis and I was banned for one race," Lorenzo said.
"Since then my mentality has changed, I do things more thoughtfully.
"My ideas are very clear: ours is the most dangerous sport [and] we already reach the limit by ourselves.
"If then you fight with riders who are too aggressive... race direction should help in curbing the risks, but it doesn't happen.
"In F1 as soon as you hit someone you get a huge penalty. In football, too, there's more protection, with a hard tackle you get a red card. We are light years away from that with bikes.
"Race direction does not hand out the punishments I would like it to, and if this doesn't change, then more riders will ride more aggressively."
SEPANG MEETING
Loris Capirossi, who sits as safety advisor on the MotoGP race direction board, said he felt Marquez's clash at Aragon was not sufficient to merit punishment.
Both Marquez and Pedrosa will however attend a hearing at Sepang in order to review the incident.
Marquez has already accrued two penalty points this year following his Silverstone warm-up crash, meaning just two more points would force him to start from the back of the grid.
"We want to hear from both riders together," Capirossi confirmed.
"Personally, I say that if we punish this incident, then half the field should be punished."
Translation by Michele Lostia
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