Jorge Lorenzo: Marquez ‘taking risks all of the time’

Jorge Lorenzo has been one of the biggest critics of compatriot Marc Marquez in 2013, but the reigning world champion refused to condemn the rookie sensation after yesterday’s dramatic Motorland Aragon clash in Spain.

Lorenzo was leading the 23-lap race and was totally oblivious to the drama unfolding behind him on lap six when Marquez made momentary contact with the back of Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda RC213V at Turn 12.

The contact might have been minimal but it was enough to tear Pedrosa’s rear wheel speed sensor cable in half. The result left him with no traction control and as he accelerated for the short squirt to Turn 13, he was viciously high-sided and fortunate to escape any significant injury.

The incident once again put Marquez’s aggressive riding strategy firmly in the spotlight and not for the first time in 2013.

Lorenzo could not contain his anger and frustration after being on the receiving end of Marquez’s pull no punches style during their home race at Jerez earlier this season.

Marquez frequently runs in too hot in the braking zone and has to take late avoiding action to avoid a collision and that happened on more than one occasion when he was battling for second with Lorenzo in Jerez.

The reigning Moto2 world champion then snatched a dramatic second at the final corner with a hard move on Lorenzo that angered him so much he refused to shake the hand of Marquez both in Parc Ferme and on the podium.

Lorenzo refused to comment directly on the incident in yesterday’s race because at the time he spoke to the media he had not had chance to review it on TV.

But he told MCN: “Looking at this year, Marc has been an unbelievable rider. He has won a lot and made lots of pole positions as a rookie and he has demonstrated that he is so fast and talented.

“Another thing is the way he is riding. He is very aggressive and he is taking risks all of the time. He has crashed 10 times and he is taking a risk for himself but also for the rest of us when he passes us.

“I didn’t see today’s (Sunday) incident but I have spoken about this before after what happened in Jerez. I was very aggressive in 250s and in my first period in MotoGP but in this moment Marc is riding like this and when this happens more things can happen than usual.”

When asked if he felt Marquez crossed the line between hard and fair too much and was overly aggressive, Lorenzo hesitated before adding: “My opinion isn’t going to change anything.

“I said what I feel in Jerez but today (Sunday) I can’t say anything because he was faster than me and what interests me more is improving to try and be better than him.”