The Sepang Incident is now out of control. Today, the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) rejected the appeal of Valentino Rossi’s penalty points, meaning that the nine time world champion will start the race from the back of the grid. But that is not why motorcycle racing is in danger.
Earlier this week, HRC (Honda Racing Corporation), and later Repsol (the Spanish based petroleum company that sponsors Honda in MotoGP) released statements regarding the incident, both of which accused Rossi of kicking HRC rider Marc Marquez and, in Repsol’s case, threatened to end their relationship with the sport. Yamaha was quick to respond, refuting the claims while also stating that their company would not comment any further on the subject.
The sabre rattling by Repsol is reminiscent of 2008, when they pressured HRC to abandon its 30 year relationship with Michelin mid-season, because of the poor performance of the then Repsol star rider Dani Pedrosa. This week’s threat has far deeper ramifications for the largely Spanish-based road racing universe, since Repsol directly and indirectly sponsors not just HRC, but satellite teams in Moto2 and Moto3, the Spanish CEV championship and other series. It was clearly meant to lean on not just HRC, but the FIM and MotoGP organizers Dorna as well.
Meanwhile, the rhetoric used by HRC in directly accusing Rossi of violent behavior, despite the consensus of racing officials to the contrary, raises the temperature of the industry dramatically. By using the Marquez’ telemetry data as a false proof (it indicates that Marquez’ brake lever was hit, but cannot demonstrate if that was a result of a kick or just contact with Rossi’s bike), the HRC statement became nothing more than a play designed to win supporters in this already ugly episode.
The vital sea-change in this publicity move was that it was very un-Japanese. By painting Rossi as a shameless belligerent, his entire Yamaha Factory Racing team were shamed, including his teammate and likely 2015 world champion Jorge Lorenzo. Yamaha was therefore forced into a counter statement of denial, which in terms of optics puts the winning team and rider on the defensive, and will be taken by many as an admission of guilt. Honda has effectively stolen any virtue that Yamaha might have won, through a public shaming, even though Lorenzo was not involved .
It will not end here.
Yamaha Motor Corporation is a proud company, one that has surged from near economic collapse in 2009 to a position of tremendous strength in every major motorcycle segment in the world. In the hotly contested south-east Asian markets of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, Yamaha is extending sales leads over Honda in many sectors. That is why both Honda and Yamaha MotoGP teams feature Indonesian slogans, and why significant (and expensive) retaliation can be expected.
That HRC went after Rossi is understandable. However, in carelessly injuring Yamaha Racing’s honour they risk much more. A turf war between Honda and Yamaha is just business, but an all-out assault on each other’s brand integrity will damage them both, dragging the motorcycle industry into a bad place.
Honda has thrown the first mud. It is now up to Yamaha, Jorge Lorenzo and most importantly Valentino Rossi to rise above it by not raising the stakes. Given the past few weeks, that outcome is  not looking likely.
I am so much less excited about Valencia than I was pre-drama, I almost don’t want to watch. (Moto3 should prove very exciting though. )
It’s pretty clear from the video that Marquez leaned into Rossi. Rossi tried to trap him but got snared himself.
On the bright side, one would think this is increasing exposure of motorcycle racing due to the controversy.
” By using the Marquez’ telemetry data as a false proof (it indicates that Marquez’ brake lever was hit, but cannot demonstrate if that was a result of a kick or just contact with Rossi’s bike).”
MotoGP bikes carry a front brake lever guard, specifically to prevent such an incident from happening – whether intentionally or accidentally. If they are suggesting that Rossi somehow managed to activate the rear brake by smacking the pedal, then he is one truly amazing acrobat.
All the telemetry can show is that Marquez’ brakes were APPLIED, not activated through outside contact. I’m fairly certain this will be presented when the whole deal eventually ends up in the courts.
Have a look at pictures #2,8,9 and 11 ….
http://www.sportrider.com/image-gallery-2015-honda-rc213v?image=1