Valentino Rossi believes a ‘crazy’ and late pass by Andrea Iannone could well have cost him the chance to fight Marc Marquez for the win in today’s Phillip Island MotoGP and said the level of aggression in MotoGP is moving up.
The Doctor was in an eight-man, race-long battle for the win and was right on the tail of Marquez when Iannone crashed the party, sticking a move on Rossi at Honda (or whatever it’s called this week) which pushed both him and Johann Zarco wide, and allowed the reigning champion some breathing space.
“I had the potential to stay with Marquez until the end because I was fast. But when at one moment I thought that I was in the perfect position, Iannone arrived in the hairpin like crazy, and Marquez went away. But I think that anyway it was difficult to win,” said Rossi, speaking at the track.
"The level of aggression and contact raised a lot, especially when the young riders arrive from Moto2. Also Zarco is always very aggressive. You get angry, but anyway it doesn't change anything. This is the game if you want to play, it is like this. It is a bit more dangerous, but this is the way if you don't want to stay at home.
"To fight especially with Zarco, and then arrived Iannone, the two worst riders for fighting. I remember I had the fight with Iannone in 2015 and he beat me on the last lap so I try the maximum with also Zarco like this and also with Marquez, so was a great race I enjoy a lot."
