Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

MotoGP title loss will take "months" to heal, Valentino Rossi says

Valentino Rossi believes it will take him "months" to come to terms with how he lost the 2015 MotoGP world championship

Rossi led the standings from the opening round in Qatar, only to be beaten at the finale by Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo after the penalty for his clash with Marc Marquez in Malaysia left him starting at the back for Valencia.

After the race Rossi launched another salvo in his ongoing spat with Marquez by accusing the Spaniard of sitting behind leader Lorenzo and "protecting" his countryman.

Speaking at the end of post-season testing on Wednesday night, Rossi said the hard emotions had solidified as the week progressed.

"Honestly on Sunday after the race it hurt but it's a different situation as there is lots of adrenaline," he told Italian reporters.

"On Monday instead it was tough and yesterday [Tuesday], too, it was quite a struggle.

"Today [Wednesday] it has been a bit better, but it's something, a situation, that will take months to - not forget it, because you'll never forget it - but to come to terms with."

He also further stirred the row with Marquez by questioning Honda's decision last week to call off a press conference at which it had intended to display telemetry from the infamous Sepang collision between Rossi and Marquez.

Honda had said the data provided proof Marquez's crash had been caused by Rossi kicking his rival's bike, but reversed plans to share it after series organisers urged the warring parties to move on.

"I'm curious to see Honda's telemetry. Oh, they haven't shown it? Strange!" said Rossi.

"I'd like to figure out how they think they can demonstrate through telemetry that I had kicked him. This is something you should ask them.

"Poor guys, they wanted to show it but for the good of motorcycle racing they won't..."

Translation by Michele Lostia

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Jorge Lorenzo understands Valentino Rossi's anger at Marc Marquez
Next article Ducati rider Andrea Iannone cancels MotoGP off-season surgery

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe