Le Mans MotoGP: Valentino Rossi blames Simoncelli

Valentino Rossi conceded that Marco Simoncelli’s overtake during the French MotoGP race that left Dani Pedrosa with a broken left collarbone was too aggressive.

Rossi has been a staunch supporter of his close pal in recent weeks as Simoncelli has come under attack for his hard riding tactics.

But nine-times world champion said he had watched TV replays of the incident on lap 18 of yesterday’s French Grand Prix  when Simoncelli and Pedrosa tangled entering the second chicane.

Factory Ducati rider Rossi, who scored his first podium for the Bologna factory in a dramatic 28-lap race, said: “I saw the problem between Marco and Dani just one time on TV, but for me I think this time Simoncelli was too hard.

“He didn’t leave any space for Dani. So he comes from the outside and maybe he was braking harder, but maybe a bit too aggressive because Dani didn’t have any room to do anything.

“I think it’s also a mistake because I think Simoncelli in that part of the race was stronger, so if he doesn’t overtake Dani at that braking point he can overtake him on the next lap.”

For more reaction to the Simoncelli/Pedrosa incident, see the May 18 issue of MCN.