REPSOL Honda’s Marc Marquez has described his clash with Valentino Rossi in Argentina as merely a ‘racing incident’.

The 22-year-old World Champion, who crashed on the penultimate lap after his front tyre collided with Rossi’s rear tyre, said: ‘After viewing the race several times, I still stand by what I said in Argentina.

‘These things happen in racing, and you have to learn from it, and I am still young, so I have a lot of lessons to learn. That’s the thing with racing incidents, sometimes they benefit you, and sometimes they don’t.

‘But that is all part of the learning process. I am convinced that there was zero intention on my part or Rossi’s to cause the accident.

‘I have always said that Rossi is my idol, and a benchmark for us all. I have learned a lot from him over the years, and I am still learning. Everything makes you better, even this crash.

‘And the truth is, the gamble almost paid off, we just missed out by a lap and a half. I learned other things too, but those I will keep to myself.’

Speaking of his relationship with nine-time World Champion Rossi after the incident, Marquez explained: ‘We are both okay with each other. We are two riders who know how to differentiate between life on and off the track. On track, everyone is looking out for their own interests, so I hope that does not change our relationship.’

Marquez is 30 points behind Rossi who is currently leading the MotoGP Championship standings, but it doesn’t seem to have phased the young Repsol Honda rider.

‘There are lots of things that make me feel very optimistic,’ said the Spaniard.

‘For one, I could have won all three races so far. If I had not made the mistake at the first corner in Qatar, I think I would have been on the podium guaranteed. I won in Austin, and if I did not fall in Argentina, we would have finished second.

‘We are in good shape for the rest of the season, and we have done a good job so far. Secondly, in 2013 after the first six races, Dani [Pedrosa] was leading the standings, Jorge [Lorenzo] was second and I was third, 30 points behind Dani, and I still went on to win the title.’