Yamaha hits back at Honda claims in Rossi/Marquez MotoGP row
The Yamaha MotoGP team has hit back at claims from Marc Marquez and Honda that Valentino Rossi kicked out at the Spaniard in their controversial Malaysian Grand Prix clash
Marquez accused Rossi of the kick immediately after the race, and Honda reiterated the claims when it issued a Q&A with its on Monday.
Yamaha dismissed Marquez's initial comments hours after the Sepang race, with its MotoGP team boss Lin Jarvis saying: "I don't think it's probably very wise to kick a 157kg bike."
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Yamaha said it took exception to the media releases issued by Honda regarding the Rossi/Marquez incident.
"Yamaha would like to express its disagreement with the words that have been used to report on the incident between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez," it said.
"Both [Honda] press releases included words that accuse Valentino Rossi of kicking Marc Marquez's bike that is something not proven by the investigation of race direction.
"Yamaha has no wish to enter into further discussion regarding this unfortunate affair and our desire is to conclude the 2015 MotoGP season in the best possible way.
"We go to Valencia with the clear intention of trying our best to win what we hope will be a memorable final race with all riders and teams competing in an exemplary sportsmanlike manner befitting the top category of motorcycle racing."
The president of motorcycle racing's governing body (FIM), Vito Ippolito, last week said the Rossi/Marquez row had "poisoned" MotoGP.
Ippolito will also attend an extraordinary meeting with all riders and teams on Thursday ahead of this weekend's championship-deciding season finale, and the pre-event press conference has been cancelled.
Rossi, who leads the championship by seven points ahead of Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, is set to start the race from the back of the grid as his punishment for causing a collision with Marquez at Sepang, although he has appealed that verdict with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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