Brivio: Elias should get a warning

The Spaniard overtook Yamaha's Valentino Rossi under braking and almost made the Italian fall by going wide in today's Turkish Grand Prix.

As a result, Rossi accused the Honda rider of trying to take him out on purpose and being unfair.

"I agree with Valentino," Brivio told TV channel Italia1. "Some time ago Honda made a protest in Motegi for something that Rossi did in the race.

"I don't think it's fair to do something like that because in the race these things can happen, but I feel in this case Elias deserves some sort of reprimand or warning.

"His action today should be analyzed by race control to make him aware of the fact that he should be more careful when he does a manoeuvre. There were many overtaking moves on the limit, but this was a lengthy - too lengthy - braking move towards the end of the turn.

"So, especially with young riders with a lot of years ahead, it would make sense to analyze these episodes to make sure they don't happen again."

Elias's team manager Fausto Gresini, however, played down the episode, claiming that Rossi overreacted.

"I heard Valentino's words and it's a shame, but this is racing," Gresini told Italia1.

"Obviously he's upset today because he didn't get the result he expected, so he blames a bit Toni with whom he had problems in the past. There was Jerez and Portugal last year, so he's certainly not a rider he likes.

"I think the two riders need to talk to each other. Valentino is angry because he certainly doesn't like to be overtaken this way, in a difficult spot of the track where you brake hard and where there were contacts in the past.

"If it wasn't Valentino, the move would have gone more unnoticed."

Rossi went on to finish in tenth place after tyre-wear problems, while Elias finished second.