What happened with Viñales and Rossi in Qualifying?
23 APRIL 2017
We look at the incident that occurred on-track in Q2 between the Movistar Yamaha teammates of Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi
http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2017/04/23/what-happened-with-vinales-and-rossi-in-qualifying/225977
Saturday in Austin may well turn out to be the day that the real relationship between Rossi and Viñales was laid bare. Throughout the preseason, Rossi has been respectful towards his teammate, and Viñales has been the same, expressing admiration for the man who used to be his idol, without showing any deference. A brief encounter in Turn 20 may have ended the pretense of collegiality, however.
What happened was almost certainly an accident, Rossi taking a weird line through the final corner to maximize drive onto the straight at the start of the lap, in the hope of either getting a tow from another rider, or attempting a quick lap on his own. That put him right in the path of his Movistar Yamaha teammate, who was already on a flying lap. There was plenty of gesticulating from Viñales, though afterwards he insisted that his anger had been temporary, and that he accepted it had probably been accidental. Rossi, in turn, insisted that he hadn't seen anything behind him, and was surprised by Viñales' vociferous and demonstrative complaints a little later in the lap.
The matter was settled in Parc Ferme, with a brief discussion and a handshake. At the press conference, both riders insisted there was nothing wrong between them. Yet the body language at the press conference showed a perceptible change. Viñales may have forgiven Rossi, but he has also given up on receiving any help from his teammate. Rossi is out for himself, Viñales realizes. What he needs to realize next is that this is as it should be.