Pull and Bear Ducati’s Eugene Laverty has stated he doesn’t think Andrea Iannone was correct to give him a hard time about his riding in the second MotoGP free practice session at the Red Bull Ring today.

The pair clashed in the second session when Laverty was on a fast lap and the pair were seen having words in the practice start area. The Monegasque was hauling his way back from a crash in the first session and had been on a fast lap when the two aimed for the same piece of tarmac.

“The morning was a bit of a disaster, culminating in a crash. Prior to that we had a technical problem and the bike stopped, so I had to come back on the sliproad and the tyres cooled. When I got back on track they were still cold and I crashed coming into turn eight. That damaged my confidence,” said Laverty.

“In the second session I struggled a bit to feel that confidence again, but in the end I managed to lower my time. In the final moments Iannone complained about me, telling me to use my head. If I was on a slow lap I would have accepted the blame, but I was on my fast lap and I don’t think that his complaint was correct.”

Iannone countered, saying: “My English is not good so maybe he not understand. I try to say to him he pay more attention because when I try to pass him I brake late as was my faster lap and he brake after me and then look me. When I go into turn four, I pick up the bike but he didn't pick up the bike and we touch. I am not angry with him. It is the practice, no problem, but is better him follow me.”