We all have our opinions on the Rossi–Lorenzo clash on and off track at the Motegi GP, but what did two former World Champions of the caliber of Wainey Rainey and Wayne Gardner who were no strangers to hard racing, think about it what they saw?Here’s their thoughts on the duel that certainly revived a somewhat boring race, until those final two laps.
“I just think it was good hard clean racing,” Wayne Rainey said.
“OK, they bumped.
That’s the way I remember it, the way you’re supposed to race.
I don’t know everybody’s saying, but I just thought it was a great race.
” and “That’s the way racing should be, the way I see it, I think if you’re going to race hard.
I just see that as hard racing.
OK, it happens to be between two teammates, but Lorenzo decided to race Rossi there at the end and it looked like Rossi saw there was an opening and he went for it and then they bumped.
” While Wayne Gardner wrote: “Make no mistake Valentino Rossi’s extremely risky and aggressive passes on Jorge Lorenzo during Sunday’s Japanese MotoGP are a clear sign that things are far from rosy inside the Yamaha garage.
” going on describing the situation but in the end Gardner says, “Regardless, the tussle was great to watch.
After what’s been a fairly lacklustre year of head-to-head battles in MotoGP, those last few desperate laps provided the clear high point of the season.
It was brilliant and I wish we could see more of it.
Still, I was surprised by Rossi’s aggression, and I can see that Lorenzo and his side of the garage are complaining fairly loudly about Vale’s tactics.
Well, maybe they have a case.
It was pretty tough passing, probably a little harsh.
But that’s how it goes.
It is MotoGP, after all, not club racing.
” You can read the rest of Rainey’s interview on cyclenews.
com and Gardner’s comments on the Motegi race on his website waynegardnerapproved.
com.