Repsol: Without sporting values it makes no sense to be a sponsor

Repsol released a sensational press release that called their future in MotoGP into question following the “unacceptable and unsportsmanlike conduct of Valentino Rossi against Marc Marquez” at Sepang.

The Spanish oil company was left fuming when their rider, Marquez, crashed out of the Malaysian Grand Prix on the seventh lap after contact with Rossi. The Italian was adjudged the cause of the accident and while Race Direction declared that he had not sought a crash a back of the grid penalty at the next race clearly didn’t offer enough punishment for Repsol.

“On the seventh lap of the race, with Marquez and Rossi immersed in a battle for third place that involved several overtaking moves between the two, the Italian – in an absolutely intentional action – dealt an unsportsmanlike kick to the Repsol Honda rider that knocked him to the ground,” read the Repsol statement.

“Although Marquez was fortunately able to escape unharmed from the attack, for Repsol the conduct of Rossi is absolutely unacceptable because it endangered – in a premeditated and unsportsmanlike manner – the safety of the Repsol Honda team rider. Repsol consider this an unsportsmanlike act incompatible with the values of sport and competition.”

Repsol went on to say that the values of all sports-companionship, competitive spirit and commitment-were discarded and that without those values their future as a sponsor would be called into question.

“Repsol are deeply saddened that situations like that which occurred today in Sepang exist, especially as the company feel proud of sporting values: Companionship, competitive spirit and commitment from riders. Without these values, it would not make sense for Repsol to participate in the sport as a sponsor.