Story highlights

  • Rossi accuses Marquez of 'destroying our sport'
  • Rossi crashed out in Argentina after on-track collision

(CNN)The largely dormant but always potentially volcanic feud between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez erupted violently on Sunday, at an incendiary Argentine MotoGP.

Marquez, who had fought his way back through the field from 19th place after a ride-through penalty, appeared to mount a wildly misjudged attempt to pass his rival.
The Catalan's Repsol Honda collided with Rossi's Movistar Yamaha, shoving the Italian to the edge of the track and onto the wet grass run-off area.
To audible gasps from the stands, Rossi was sent sprawling. He remounted only to limp home in 19th place and out of the points. Marquez crossed the line in fifth, but a penalty for 'reckless riding' pushed him back to 18th, also pointless.
Valentino Rossi was left furious after being forced off the track by rival Marc Maequez.
Rossi was damning in his assessment of both the incident and Marquez's race weekend overall, pointing to other incidents involving the Honda rider.
'One incident can happen to anybody, you can make a mistake in braking, you can touch the other guy. It can happen, it's racing,' he told reporters.
'But from Friday morning on, Marquez did this to [Maverick] Viñales, to [Andrea] Dovizioso, to me and today he went straight through four riders.'
His penalty following the clash with Rossi was the third for Marquez on a frenetic afternoon.
After stalling his bike on the grid there appeared to be confusion over whether he should start from the pit lane.
But Marquez mistakenly remained on the grid, storming to a commanding lead after robustly passing even his teammate Dani Pedrosa, who was also then sent dramatically tumbling by an overly-aggressive pass from Tech 3 Yamaha's Johann Zarco.
A ride-through penalty for Marquez's starting grid infraction was the beginning of his problems as he fought to regain places.
Valentino Rossi is helped back onto his bike after crashing out.
A first misjudged pass attempt saw him barge into Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro, for which race direction ordered him to drop a place, all before the calamitous incident with Rossi.
Marquez tried to explain himself after the race. '[After the ride-through penalty] I obviously tried to push to recover and, unfortunately, I made some mistakes, the biggest one I believe being with Aleix [Espargaro],' he told reporters.
'I approached faster than him and I didn't realize it. I tried my best to avoid contact but unfortunately I wasn't able.'
The world champion blamed the track for his clash with Rossi. 'With Valentino it was different, as it was a consequence of the track conditions,' he said.
'I touched a wet patch, locked the front, and released the brakes. I tried to turn, again making my best effort to avoid contact.'
Even without the drama of the Rossi-Marquez clash, the race was memorable enough. Cal Crutchlow became the first British rider to lead the championship since the legendary Barry Sheene in 1979, with a superbly judged win in capricious conditions.
The LCR Honda rider patiently tracked an unlikely leading group containing Zarco, Suzuki's Alex Rins and Pramac Ducati's Jack Miller, before launching a perfectly timed last lap bid for victory.
Crutchlow looks to have found his perfect ride this season. 'She's a rocket when she needs to get going,' he said of his bike.
'Now we come away from here leading the championship and we have to be positive going on to [the next race in] Austin.'
Brit Cal Crutchlow was victorious in Argentina but less than happy with the lack of media attention.
The Manxman, never less than direct, voiced his irritation at the sparsely attended post-race press conference, accusing those media not present of 'disrespect'.
His frustration was understandable, but the story was undeniably elsewhere.
'Of course, today I made some mistakes, which I recognize,' Marquez conceded. 'But one thing I know for sure: never in my career have I intentionally hit another rider.'
Yamaha team principal Lin Jarvis was hearing nothing of Marquez's explanation. 'It was unacceptable, dangerous and deserves a very strong penalty,' he told MotoGP.com after the race.
Rossi went further still. 'He doesn't play clean. He plays dirty,' he railed. 'They [Race Direction] have to do something; I'm scared on the track when I'm with Marquez.
'I was scared today when I saw his name on the board. I'm not Race Direction -- they will decide -- but like this he is destroying our sport, because when you do 300 km an hour on the track, you have to have respect for your rivals.'
At the end of the race an ashen-faced Marquez, helmet off, walked straight to Rossi's garage to apologize, but was angrily turned away by the Italian's entourage. It is hard to imagine what it would take now to repair their once-cordial relationship.
HomeMotoGPValentino RossiValentino Rossi Extends Yamaha MotoGP Contract Through 2020

Valentino Rossi MotoGP Contract News

At 39-years old, Valentino Rossi has once again hushed any rumors of retirement from MotoGP. The nine-time World Champion extended his contract with the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team for another two years, Rossi remaining on the factory YZR-M1 through 2020 MotoGP.

Upon successful completion of MotoGP racing through 2020, the Italian will compete in a record 24 seasons of Grand Prix, which will include 20 years in the premier class, with 15 of those on a Yamaha, four on a Honda, and two on a Ducati.

“When I signed my last contract with Yamaha, in March 2016, I wondered if that would have been the last contract as a MotoGP rider,” Valentino Rossi says.

“At that time, I decided that I’d take that decision during the following two years. During the last two years I came to the conclusion that I want to continue because racing, being a MotoGP rider, but especially riding my M1, is the thing that makes me feel good.

“Having the opportunity to work with my team, with Silvano, Matteo and all my mechanics, and working with all Japanese engineers, Tsuji-san, and above all Tsuya-san, is a pleasure – I’m happy.

“I want to thank Yamaha – Lin Jarvis and Maio Meregalli in particular – for their trust in me, because the challenge is difficult: being competitive until I’m 40 years old! I know it’s going to be difficult and it requires a lot of effort from my side and a lot of training but I’m ready, I am not lacking in motivation, that’s why I’m signing for two more years.”

Rossi joined the factory Yamaha team in 2004 after winning three-straight titles on Honda machinery in the premier class. He won that championship, and followed it up with titles in 2005, 2008 and 2009. Rossi spent two sour years with Ducati Team in 2011 and 2012 before returning with Yamaha in 2013.

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP says “This new, two-year deal demonstrates both Yamaha’s commitment to the nine-time World Champion and vice-versa, as they seek to be fighting consistently at the front once again. After some ups and downs in 2017, as well as an injury mid-season, the target is set high again for this season – could a tenth be on the way?”

Rossi is Yamaha’s most successful winner in GP history with 56 wins, 43 runner-up and 35 third-place finishes. He has raced 206 GPs with Yamaha, and claimed 11 percent of Yamaha’s 500 GP victories.

“The confirmation of Valentino‘s two-year extension of his Agreement with Yamaha is a great way to start the 2018 season that kicks off officially on Friday in Qatar,” says Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing. Lightroom 5 download free.

“The news may not be a great surprise because Valentino has made it clear that he wanted to continue to race, but the reconfirmation will surely come as welcome news for his millions of fans around the world.

“It was very easy to reach an agreement together – as a Factory Team we need top riders capable to win and with the total commitment to do what it takes to achieve the goal. Despite his many years in the sport and his 39 years, Vale is as committed today as he ever was and there is no doubt he is still a top rider, as witnessed most recently by his second position in the final pre-season test here in Qatar. Now it is our job as a team and a factory to give him the best possible YZR-M1 to let him fight for race wins and championship success.

“Having both Maverick and Valentino now signed for 2019-20 allows us to just focus all of our energy on the 2018 season and to be strong contenders at every single MotoGP Grand Prix. It promises to be a highly competitive season and like all the fans – we in Yamaha are truly excited to go racing on Sunday night here in Losail.”

“The Doctor” brings much energy to MotoGP, and a 10th title for him would do much for the popularity of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

Rossi begins his mission for a 10th World Title this weekend at the opening round of 2018 MotoGP at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit.