Lorenzo slams Zarco over ‘very aggressive’ pass
Jorge Lorenzo has branded Johann Zarco’s overtake on him at Turn 9 in the early stages of the Motegi MotoGP as a ‘Playstation‘ move and ‘very aggressive’.
The pair were debating fourth place on the fourth lap of a rain–lashed Japanese Grand Prix when Zarco went for an overtake on the Spaniard at the V Corner at Turn 9.
Twitter: That was CLOSE! Maybe too close? JZ5 barges his way through on JL99!
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The Tech3 rider was able to get ahead of the Spaniard, but not without making a small touch. Lorenzo was visibly frustrated with Zarco, and expressed his anger with the pass to him after the race – though Zarco felt he had done nothing wrong.
Lorenzo eluded to Zarco’s previous run–ins on track this season – which received similar backlash from riders – and wants the Tech3 rider’s behaviour to be discussed at the next Safety Commission meeting.
“You saw what happened,” Lorenzo, who finished sixth at Motegi, said.
“It’s not the first he’s done this kind of thing – with me but also with two or three other riders.
“But he keeps doing it as though he’s playing the Playstation on time attack, like there’s no–one at the side; very aggressive.
“I went to his box but he doesn’t understand he’s doing something bad and he won’t change.
“Someone should tell him to be more clam. He things he’s right and doing good, and that you or we need to be careful – not that he has to calm down.
“I would like to speak with the Safety Commission to see what we can do, because something could happen in future.”
Zarco – who started from pole but ended up a distant eighth at the chequered flag – admits he did not expect Lorenzo to still be alongside him as he picked up the throttle exiting the corner, and concedes the move was a little aggressive – though thinks it was simply a part of racing.
“I was confident with the front, so in Turn 9 I could attack,” Zarco explained.
“Then he tried to stay on the outside, but when I went out the corner I didn’t see him.
“I didn’t think he could be there and we touched because of my acceleration. I went normally on my line and touched each other.
“It was quite a strong touch, but it was normal in the race. Because I was on the inside I got the advantage.
“Nobody crashed (which) is the good thing.”