Marc Marquez admits he didn't think his race-ending move on Valentino Rossi was “anything crazy”, and pinned the collision on poor track conditions at Turn 13.
The Honda rider was in the midst of a recovery ride after receiving a ride-through penalty for not starting from pitlane after his RC213V stalled on the grid, a punishment he “did not understand” as he claims he was signaled by a marshal to return to his grid slot.
Chasing sixth-placed Rossi having come from 19th, Marquez dived up the inside of the Italian at the penultimate corner with four laps to go, but forced Rossi onto the wet grass where he crashed.
Marquez was handed a 30-second time penalty after the chequered flag for the incident, but feels it was a racing incident after he touched a damp patch under braking.
“There, I didn't think I make anything crazy,” he said in defense.
“I was… you need to understand how was the track condition. Of course, in that line was dry, but I take a wet patch, lock the front, release the brakes, okay I had the contact.
“I tried to turn, and then when I see him crash I just tried to say sorry, but if you check [Johann] Zarco with Dani [Pedrosa], [Danilo] Petrucci with Aleix [Espargaro], today was quite difficult.
“But, doesn't matter. I did my 100 percent and of course tricky Sunday.”
Marquez admits his main error was his collision with Aprilia's Espargaro at the same corner earlier in the race, which he feels he was fairly penalised for.
“The biggest mistake I did this race was with Aleix, because I arrive four seconds faster and I didn't realise [how fast I was], because when you arrive four seconds faster it's difficult and I didn't realise.
“But I tried my 100 percent to avoid the contact. I say sorry and I receive the penalty, I understand, I just go back one position but even two to be safe.
“Then I start to push again, and yeah, the second thing you see was with Valentino.”
Rossi said Marquez's antics “destroyed” the sport, and said the Honda rider was deliberate in his contact with him.
The Spaniard – who was embroiled in a bitter feud with Rossi in 2015, which began with a collision at Termas that year – refutes this, and says he was “disappointed” with his accusations.
“I mean, about this, of course I'm completely disappointed,” he added.
“In my career I never, never, never go straight to one rider thinking that he will crash. Always I try to avoid. Of course sometimes you overtake is closer, sometimes is more clear.
“Today what happen with Valentino was a mistake consequence by the track conditions because I lock the front. But [throughout] my career, what he say, I think he's wrong.”
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