JONATHAN REA " Maybe my only mistake today was not to be aggressive in the beginning and to take every margin that opened and put myself in a better position. I had no bike problem, but I made an average start and all the guys in front were kind of in a rhythm that was like low two minutes. No urgency. But when I touched with Tom in the last corner, it was like, ‘OK, I pressed the button now.’ I had to try and go and make my own race. Then the accident at turn 12 happened and that was it. I do not know what part touched, it happened so fast. He drove into the side of me, it is clear to see from his onboard footage that he completely hit the side of my bike and side of my body. My elbow, knee and the side of my bike. From the uphill facing camera is was hard to see because we were in a group, but from his onboard camera, you can very clearly see that he rode straight into the side of me. It was a side contact. If you understand the championship, you understand everything in the championship. You are clever. It is unfortunate for me in the points situation, but it is how it is. I put my points across to them and they gave me their opinion as well, which was quite balanced to understand, but to me it is clear what happened. The only thing I can’t understand is what was in Tom’s brain in that moment of madness. I can’t understand this guy that when every other rider in the paddock passes, him, he cannot fight with other riders. He goes in the race when there is a fight to be had, he is going backwards. But when it is me, he is attacking straight back at the next corner. It has been clear all weekend that we had a much better pace. I can only talk about if I was in his position, how I would manage that situation. But from my point of view I am completely flabbergasted that the accident happened. I completely destroyed the exit of my corner to show Tom a wheel. To show him I was there and trying to come through and make my race and go forward in the race. I opened up the line and where he had a chance to square off the corner and out-drag me to the straight, it seemed like the best solution for him was to ride into the side of me and take me down. I just cannot understand what was in his brain at that moment. Clever people understand what has happened. He had space to go more inside and square off the corner, like Laverty in front. It was very easy to see he was much wider than Laverty. Intention was clear. I just do not understand why it was in his brain to not give me room when I was already through. I cannot accept the blame put on me, it is ludicrous. I went down when there was contact. That happens in racing but it looks like I am not going to get an apology either.”
