Share this article on LinkedIn Email

MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo believes Valentino Rossi "created" the controversy with Marc Marquez that influenced the outcome of the 2015 title race.

On the eve of the penultimate round in Malaysia, Rossi accused Marquez of "thinking like a child" and trying to help countryman Lorenzo win the title.



Rossi and Marquez then clashed during the Malaysian race, with Rossi starting the Valencia finale from the rear of the grid as a result of a penalty.

From pole, his Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo won the race to overturn a seven-point deficit and claim the title, as Rossi and Marquez continued to trade barbs.



"Valentino created, all by himself, a problem that turned against him," Lorenzo told Motosprint.

"He made a mistake in the Thursday press conference in Sepang, and I say this without a problem because that's what I think.

"Valentino made a mistake: if instead of attacking Marquez publicly, accusing him of something so serious - his accusations were very serious - had he spoke with him alone, calmly, without the media fuss, things would have gone differently.

"He would have clarified with Marquez the facts that created tension between them, that is the episodes in Argentina and Assen, and maybe in the end he would have sorted things out.

"But Valentino chose instead that strategy, so he got the opposite effect from what he wanted: he re-awoke the beast."

Lorenzo added he was surprised to be dragged into the Rossi/Marquez row, and he does not understand why he was the subject of criticism.

"In the days after the end of the championship, 80 per cent of what was written around, especially on websites, was insults against me personally," he said.

"I have nothing to do with what had happened between [Rossi] and Marquez. Honestly, I don't understand why people got angry with me."

SURPRISE AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Lorenzo also revealed that he thought he was being passed by Ducati rider Andrea Iannone and not Marquez on the last lap in Australia, the race that raised Rossi's ire.

"I had not realised [the engine noise] was Marc, because on the previous lap, while on the straight, I read on the pitboard 'Iannone +0.8'," he said.

"So, since I was thinking it was Iannone, on the last tight turn before the long final sweeper I did not close the line with determination, because at that moment, having Iannone behind was not like having Marquez [behind].

"If I knew it was Marc, I would have shut the door much more aggressively.

"If you are dealing with a rider going for his maiden victory, you must expect even a desperate attack, because in order to win he is ready to take risks.

"Marquez is not in that condition, so I don't think he would have the intention to risk the impossible and make both of us crash in order to win that race."

Translation by Michele Lostia