Valerossi
04-15-2005, 04:04 PM
FRIDAY 15TH APRIL 2005
Valentino Rossi has clarified the content of the letter sent by FIM president Francesco Zerbi to both himself and Sete Gibernau, following their controversial last turn clash in the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
In the letter, Zerbi apparently asks both riders to fight fairly and without revenge, but also, confusingly, states that - although he doesn't think any rules were broken at Jerez - he doesn't want the situation repeated!
This confusion was put to Rossi on Friday evening; the Italian replied by explaining that he believes the letter meant that the events at Jerez were acceptable, but at 'the limit'.
"Yes I received the letter from the president and basically I agree (with it)," he said. "(Zerbi) says 'everyone wants to win and everybody rides very hard for victory'.
"He said that the overtake was hard, but not over the limit," Rossi added. "He didn't say don't do it again, he said don't make worse. If I had the same space in the last corner I'd do the same again..."
Meanwhile, Gibernau's team manager Fausto Gresini has reacted to the letter by asking why Zerbi thinks that his rider, who was forced out of the lead and off track before finishing in second place, was equally responsible for what happened.
"I fully agree with president Zerbi about the fact that sportsmanship is the most important thing. There's no room for bitter feelings between two great riders, but in the meantime, I'm still perplexed," he stated.
"In this letter, Sete and Valentino are treated equally as if Sete had some responsibility in the facts, and I can't agree with that. I believe there is a contradiction when the FIM president writes 'there isn't anything to reproach you for from a legal point of view', and then warns that what happened in Jerez must not occur again.
"It means that we're still far from a situation where all have equal rights, in a sport as dangerous as ours."
Gibernau was second fastest and Rossi sixth after the opening day of the Portuguse Grand Prix at Estoril.
Gibernau and Rossi, last corner collision, Spanish MotoGP, 2005