News 6 Apr 2011

Hearing to be had following Stoner and Rossi clash at Jerez

Aussie Casey Stoner was left fuming after being taken down by Valentino Rossi at Jerez on Sunday.

Aussie Casey Stoner was left fuming after being taken down by Valentino Rossi at Jerez on Sunday.

The controversial clash between Australia’s Casey Stoner and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi isn’t done and dusted yet, with the FIM revealing overnight that there will be a hearing regarding the aftermath of the incident.

Following the collision between Stoner and Rossi during Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, the race direction has decided to organise a hearing with the clerk of the course and the chief marshal in order to review the incident and to hear the explanation of the officials in charge.

Due to the fact that the final decision of the race direction will not affect the result of the race, the hearing will be organised on Thursday, 28 April in Estoril, Portugal.

Stoner was livid with the marshal’s actions in assisting Rossi return to the track, while just one marshal continually tried to help Stoner re-fire his Repsol Honda.

“I hit the kill switch when I went down, and unfortunately with our clutch system we have to have two pins to start our bike easily,” Stoner explained. “Otherwise it’s very, very difficult to start.

“We tried to start it a few times, and if we got over the hill with more people pushing, there’s a good chance we could have started the bike.

“When I looked back there was like one guy pushing me, and the rest were walking back to the post, so what am I supposed to do with that?”

Meanwhile, Rossi kept his engine going in the crash, remounting and racing to a fighting fifth overall for the round.

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