Valentino Rossi says h🦂e is confident and looking forward to getting back on track at the Americas MotoGP in Aust﷽in this weekend.

Last time out, the Italian was left seething after being bumped wide ಌby a clumsy pass from arch rival Marc Marquez and falling on the grass in the closing stages of the damp Argentina 🐟race.

Given their past history, the signifi🌠cance of the incident was obvious.

With Marquez already penalised for contact with Aleix Espargaro at the same corner, the Hondaꦍ rider received a 30-second penalty - his third penalty of the race - meaning h♏e joined Rossi in finishing outside the points.

After refusing to meet Marquez when he attempted to apologise (Marquez later said he had hit a wet patch and done 'nothing crazy' during the incident) Rossi proclaimed that the Honda rider had 'destroyed our sport' by making contact deliberately and 'hoping you cras🐬h'.

Perhaps the most surprising comment was Rossi's admission that he is 'scared' to be on track w♚ith Marquez (also calling on Race Direction to do something to stop the Spaniard 'behaving like this').

Yet after last October's thrilling Phillip Island race, where the pair had also made contact during a race of relentless aggr🅺ession between the leading riders, Rossi had shown no signs of fear:

"In the last few years, the level of aggression during races has raised a lot, especially with the young riders coming from Moto2. It’s a bit more dangerous but that’s the gamꦆe and if𒊎 you don’t want it, you should stay at home.”

“All the riders in front were so aggressive, so you need to be even more stupid t💧han them!"

The difference, of course, is that no riders fell during the Phillip Island battle⛄ and were all closely matched for speed, while Marquez held a clear advantage in Argentina and didn't need to take risks in order to pass.

A week after the Argentina race Rossi released an Instagram post accompanied by the words: "Difficult race destroyed by a dangerous rider". Another Instragram post, by Manuel Pagliani, appeared to show a p🔯hoto of the incident on a chair a﷽t Rossi's MotoRanch.

Marquez meanwhile has indicated : 

"I will re🧸main the same, I 🦂always look to push but the situation in Argentina was a result of a series of circumstances. 

"Unfortun𝓰tely I touched Valentino and then after when he went onto the grass he fell over. I understand the error, it was mine and I ♌was penalised for it. 

"🦄What happened took place with Valentino but it could have happened with a team-mate.𒀰"

Some form of rider meeting to address the fallout from Argentina is expected to be brokered by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta at this weeken🐓d's Austin round, an event Marquez has won from pole position on all five previous occasions.

Rossi has taken t༒wo podiums at COTA, 💜including a best-yet second place in last year's race.

It goes without saying that he would sur🃏ely love to be the one to break Marqu🍌ez's win streak this weekend…

"Getting back on track after a difficult race, like the one in Arge💞ntina, is always importan💜t," said the Italian.

"We hav🍷e to work to improve our M1 and every session will be crucial.

"Austin is a very difficult track for me and for the M1, but also for this reason I need to work at the best level with my team, so we can find a good set-up from the f🏅irst day of free practice.

"I'm confident. I'm always h𝕴appy to be in Texas. I like the atmosphere and the track. It hasn't been a good start to the season, but in Austin I ho💫pe to do a good race. We will do our best."

The Argentina incident has left Rossi jus💙t eighth in the world championship, 22 points behind Cal Crutchlow. Marquez is fifth and 18 points from the top.

"As a team, we are eager to move on from a compromised and disappointing end to the race weekend in Argentina," said te💙am director Massimo Meregalli. "The COTA track is a great place to do so.

"Our team really enjoys spending time in Austin, be🎀cause the atmosphere is always fantastic.

"The circuit's lay-out isn't the best match for Yamaha, but last year Valentino underlined once more that good results and podium finishes are definitely wit🌸hin our reach here."

Rossi's team-mate Maverick Vinales inherited fifth p🍰lace from Marquez after the post-race penalty in Argentina and is fourth in the world championship.