Motorsport: Lorenzo refuses to back down over Rossi stance

Jorge Lorenzo during qualifying of the MotoGP of Spain. Photo / Getty Images

Two weeks ago, Jorge Lorenzo got into a tense dispute with Valentino Rossi over the Spaniard's opinion that Rossi's pass at Misano was "too aggressive" and that other riders in MotoGP race cleaner.

Well, not much has changed.

At this week's riders press conference ahead of the Grand Prix of Aragon, Lorenzo was asked if he had changed his mind.

"No, actually I think stronger," Lorenzo said.

Rossi snatched the lead from Lorenzo on the second lap of the San Marino GP with a block pass at a tight hairpin, arrowing his bike to the apex of the corner.

When he turned into the corner Lorenzo spotted the No. 46 Yamaha on the piece of tarmac he wanted at the last moment, picking his bike up in avoidance.

Lorenzo spoke out after the race - eliciting a chortle from Rossi that triggered a spat that went on for a minute or so - but he had yet to see video of the exchange.

Now he has had a chance to rewatch the pass it has only reinforced his opinion.

"I keep stronger my opinion," he said.

"Because on the bike I couldn't see his line, and on the video I could see how his line was. I still believe in that opinion."

Rossi later told the press that his opinion on the pass was also unchanged - as was his tense relationship with his soon to be ex-teammate.

"It was a beautiful, great overtake. I liked it a lot," Rossi said, reported motorsport.com.

"I think, after the last race of last year, my relationship with Jorge has remained the same. We've always had our own ideas."