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Booing made Marc Marquez tone down MotoGP Mugello celebrations

Honda's Marc Marquez says being booed on the Mugello podium made him limit his celebrations after finishing second in MotoGP's Italian Grand Prix

A crowd of 100,640 flocked to Mugello on race day, the vast majority hoping for a victory for local hero Valentino Rossi.

Following the controversial end to the 2015 season, Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo were offered bodyguards for the first of MotoGP's two Italian rounds on the calendar.

After Rossi retired from last Sunday's race, Lorenzo and Marquez fought for the lead in a thrilling conclusion, with Yamaha rider Lorenzo emerging on top by just 0.019 seconds after several changes of position on the final lap.

Both riders were then booed on the podium, something Marquez had already said he was prepared for this year.

"The reaction was not the best one," Marquez said.

"For that reason I didn't celebrate a lot on the podium because I don't like this.

"Today all the circuit was yellow but in the end all the circuit enjoyed the last laps and the show and that is most important."

Earlier in the grand prix weekend, Marquez was told that Rossi had asked his fans to respect all MotoGP riders through the Italian media.

"This is good," the Spaniard responded on Friday evening.

"And I want to say thanks [for Rossi] to say these words.

"I feel really good, honestly I feel good in the paddock I feel well and I feel like a normal GP.

"I know that there will be more yellow flags than everywhere but this is normal, we are in Italy we are in Rossi's home circuit and we respect this.

"But most important is that we race on the track and the show for them must be good."

When asked about the podium booing post-race, Lorenzo said: "I don't care about what the reaction of the people is.

"We are like their enemies, but they have a similar reaction every year and I come here and get focused and make a good race every year."

Lorenzo's situation might change in 2017 when he moves to Ducati, which is based in Bologna, about 55 miles north of Mugello.

"I hear the Ducati fans are very happy I signed for them," he said.

"I feel a lot of support, especially on social media.

"But I believe next year the circuit will be mostly yellow so we'll get the same treatment.

"But we will stay focused and happy."

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