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MotoGP needs calm reflection after Rossi/Marquez row, says Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa hopes MotoGP can reflect on its late-2015 controversies "with a cold mind" to decide whether the spats between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez should prompt any rule changes

The last races of 2015 were overshadowed by a series of on and off track clashes, as first Rossi accused Marquez of trying to hamper his title bid, then collided with him at Sepang and earned a Valencia grid penalty, before alleging Marquez deliberately protected Jorge Lorenzo as he clinched the championship in the finale.

Questions have been raised over whether the situation could have been handled better by the Honda and Yamaha teams or MotoGP organisation, or whether rider ethics should be more tightly controlled in championship rules.

Honda rider Pedrosa believes any such discussions should wait until long after the dust has settled.

"We all need time to reflect, time to check things with a cold mind," he said.

"Then see in the future if there is a chance for talking or a chance to think about this area.

"At the moment everything is very hot. I don't think it's the right moment."

A core element of Rossi's initial fury at Marquez was his belief that the Spaniard violated an unwritten understanding between top riders that they should not interfere with title contenders' races once out of the championship fight themselves.

Rossi felt the vigour with which Marquez battled him at Phillip Island and Sepang was inappropriate as the Honda man was not in the title fight, and he was also adamant Marquez had been more lenient with Lorenzo.

Pedrosa said any rules stipulations were vulnerable to being broken when there was personal animosity between riders.

"Sure, there is a part of this that is like respect between the riders," he said of how title contenders should be treated on track.

"But at the same time, it's not written, so that means if you don't have respect...

"I don't think there was much respect in the last situations from both [riders involved].

"In the end, you race for your own team and you have to do your own race. This is the most important thing."

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