Rossi: Bautista 'closed the line'

"Bautista opened the throttle to close the line, but I was already in front" - Valentino Rossi.
Bautista and Rossi's crashed bikes, Italian MotoGP race, 2013
Bautista and Rossi's crashed bikes, Italian MotoGP race, 2013
© Gold and Goose

Valentino Rossi has spoken of his disappointment after crashi𒉰ng out of his home Italian MotoGP due to an opening lap incident with Alvaro Bautista.

Rossi, starting his💃 first Mugello race for Yamaha since 2009, looked capable of a podium challenge, despite being left seventh on the g🃏rid in qualifying.

Clutch problems at t🥀he start then put Rossi at the tail of the top ten as he exited the first turn, before riding around the outside of Ba♛utista through the following left hander at the top of the hill.

Rossi was almost a bike length ahead by the exit, but the pair clashed as t꧟he Spaniard accelerated his Honda towards the approaching right hand turn.

Bautista said that he was 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:una😼ware of Rossi's presence on the outside, but the Italian felt the Gresini Honda rider may have made a bot༒ched attempt to defend his position.

"On the second corner I was on the outside of Alvaro and I think Alvaro opened the throttle to close a bit the line, so that he doesn't lose position. But I was already in front, so he just come into me. He say tha🐈t he don't see me. It's possible," shrugged Rossi.

Bautista fell instantly following the contact, while Rossi was also knocked off course, tumbling in the gravel trap then slamming into the protective trackside barrier with considerable force. "I was lucky be💃cause it was a bad crash and I arrived at the wall, but I'm✃ ok," said Rossi.

After an investigation by Race Direction, the clash was declared to be a 'racing ♑incident'.

Seven time MotoGP champion Rossi was undefeated a🍸t his home event from 2002-2008. His first DNF since returning to ꧑Yamaha this season means he has now dropped to sixth in the standings after 5 of 18 rounds.

"We will try next week in Barcelona, but it is a pity because firstly it is Mugello and secondly 𓂃I think we could have done a good race and maybe arrived on the podium. But that's racing," Rossi ♏added.

Team-mate Jorge Lorenzo won the race.

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