Whatever anyone expected from the outcome of the Race Direction discussion with Marco Simoncelli regarding his highly controversial pass on Dani Pedrosa at Le Mans, was just a stern lecture and some sound fatherly advice to help correct the hairy Italian’s aggressive and erring ways.
Which really boiled down to: try to not commit the same mistake in the future, think twice before you decide to overtake anyone and for the love of God keep you mouth shut, don’t criticize our judgement because we are not influenced by anyone, be more politically correct when you talk to the press or else you’ll be needing more than two cops to escort you when you’re racing in Spain.
Here’s the statement that the Race Direction released after this afternoon’s meeting: The Race Direction composed of Paul Butler, Race Director and IRTA representative, Claude Danis, FIM representative, Javier Alonso, Dorna representative, and Franco Uncini, IRTA Riders Safety delegate today met with San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli.
Also present was San Carlo Honda Gresini Team Principal Fausto Gresini.
The purpose of the meeting was to give all the parties the opportunity to discuss the incident at the French MotoGP in Le Mans that resulted in Marco Simoncelli being penalised with a ride through penalty and to draw a line under it.
The Race Direction informed Simoncelli that they wished to ensure that he was aware of his mistake and to avoid any repetition in the future.
Simoncelli responded that in the interval after the French Grand Prix he had had time for reflection and regretted the statements he had made in the heat of the moment immediately after the Grand Prix.
He also recognized that he had made an error of judgment and stated that in future he would try to evaluate situations better and be a little more cautious.
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