Melandri backtracks on Honda criticism

The Italian launched a furious attack on his Japanese bosses in the wake of a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix last month - claiming on his official website that they were not doing anything to help his Gresini Racing team overcome their early problems.

He said on his website: "Have you ever asked yourselves why Yamaha started to win with Valentino (Rossi)? Maybe because they told themselves: 'damn, with the money we've spent for him maybe we should spend it to do everything he asks?'

"I've never had that chance, so only once I manage to have everything at my disposal to my liking can I get really motivated for the race's final result."

Those comments created some controversy, although Melandri was keen to point out during an official press conference in Turkey on Thursday that he did not go as far as claiming Honda had reneged on promises of parts as some stories had suggested.

"Actually I never wrote that they promised me more than I have got," said Melandri. "I think somebody said that and everybody thought that, but I never wrote that on my website."

Melandri claimed his comments were caused by intense frustration at his tough start to the year, after his failure to finish higher than fifth in the first two races of the campaign.

"I was very sad because I didn't make the result I thought I would be able to make. After the race I didn't try to find an excuse about my bad result but I tried to explain why I wasn't fast during the race and I was fast in the warm-up.

"But for sure maybe I was very sad and maybe I made a mistake. I didn't explain in the right way, and some people understood it differently from how I wanted to explain it. So it was strange for me when I heard about that.

"We just try to improve the set-up during Jerez, I think we made a step forward and I feel good right now."