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Assen MotoGP: Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi at odds over clash

Marc Marquez is adamant he deserved victory in the Assen MotoGP race and that Valentino Rossi's actions in their final-lap collision were unfair

The pair made light contact going into the chicane at the end of the Dutch TT, with Marquez trying to pass Rossi for the lead down the inside under braking for the final complex.

Assen MotoGP race report: Rossi beats Marquez after late touch

After the touch, Rossi went wide across the gravel and rejoined still ahead, beating Marquez to victory by 1.2 seconds.

Marquez believes he was fully alongside Rossi and correctly placed to take the lead, and that his rival therefore turned on him and only claimed the victory because he cut across the corner.

"I feel that we won the race," said Honda rider Marquez.

"I don't think anybody wanted the contact, but I think what I did was the perfect last chicane.

"When we had the contact we were already in the same position [side by side]. I was not back [from him].

"I think he already saw me.

"What I know is I did the correct way because I didn't go outside the track."

Rossi said he wanted to watch the footage again together with Marquez because his recollection differed.

"Maybe it's better that we see the images another time as everybody has his own idea," said the Yamaha rider.

"My idea is that I was completely in front.

"I braked hard, I stayed in the centre and I was already into the first part [of the chicane] when he came onto me.

"I just saw the tyre and he touched me on the elbow.

"I wanted to make the chicane and I was on the line.

"Unfortunately his touch put me on the outside and I didn't have a chance to stay on the line.

"When I went into the gravel my first reaction was to open the throttle because I didn't know if it was deep. I was lucky to control the bike.

"This is my version. We know his version."

Asked what he would have done had he been in Rossi's position, Marquez replied: "You never know. But after this experience, I know what to do."

Rossi added that he had backed out of trying to discuss the incident with Marquez immediately after the race.

"I went to Marc but I saw he was a little bit angry about the last chicane so I preferred to not speak a lot," said Rossi.

"After the race, everything is very hot. For sure we will speak more quietly."

Marquez responded to Rossi's comments with: "For me it doesn't matter because he knows what happened and I know what happened. This race is already gone."

When asked if he felt race direction would have penalised any rider other than Rossi for cutting the corner, Marquez replied: "We will see in the future. When somebody does it, we can say 'Valentino did it and nothing happened'."

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