Valentino Rossi, despite his retirement in 2021, remains a key figure in the world of motorcycling. Always frank in his statements, he did not mince his words when he recently spoke about his rivalry with Marc Marquez and the iconic 2015 season, a campaign that is definitely forever etched in the mind of "Il Dottore".
Red looks back on this stormy period by explaining how the rivalry with Marquez took shape: " In 2015 I was in great shape and I knew my biggest rivals for the title were Marquez and Lorenzo. In the first race in Qatar, Marquez took off like a rocket in the first corner, and I thought: 'This is going in the right direction'. Then, in Argentina, everything really started between us. »
Argentina marked a turning point in their relationship, Rossi says: " I was coming back hard on Marquez, and the moment I caught up with him I felt the fight was over. But instead of following me, he deliberately ran into me to try to make me fall.. I kept my trajectory, but we touched, and he fell. Then he acted like he still got along with me. »
The Italian continues by mentioning another key moment of the season, the Dutch Grand Prix: " Assen was another intense race. We spent the whole race overtaking each other, but at the last corner he threw me off. I had to cut the chicane to win. When he came to see me in the closed park, he said to me: 'It's easy to win like that.' But what else could I do? »
Valentino Rossi: “ I remember seeing Marquez smiling at Alzamora, as if to say 'We got him' »
The tension reached its peak in Malaysia, during a race where Red estimate that Marquez unjustifiably interfered in the championship fight: " In Malaysia, Marquez harassed me throughout the race. After trying to knock me down several times, I decided to face him. I didn't want to drop him, but he did, and it cost me the title. »
Valentino concludes on motosan Recalling the final verdict of the season, with a bitterness that is still palpable: " they decided that I had dropped it on purpose and they penalized me for the last race in Valencia. That's when I realised the title was slipping away from me. I remember seeing Marquez smile at Alzamora, as if to say 'We've got it'. " Finally, Red specifies that "Marc Marquez is exceptional and has always been very aggressive, but in 2015 he crossed the line. There are many riders who are on the edge of being dirty, but no champion has ever fought to make another rider lose. No one has ever been so dirty "
Thus, the rivalry between Red et Marquez, marked by memorable races and controversial moments, continues to haunt the Italian's memories.
