Nearly ten years later, the pain of 2015 remains raw for Valentino Rossi. That tenth world title, which seemed within reach, vanished into controversy, leaving a wound that hasn't healed. In an interview, the echoes of that legendary rivalry with Marc Marquez still resonate, carried by Rossi and his clan, while the Spaniard charts his course as the leader of the 2025 MotoGP.
Almost ten years have passed since the bitter 2015 season, but for Valentino Rossi, the wound remains gaping. This tenth world title, which seemed to be within his grasp, slipped away from him in a scenario that many still consider an injustice today. The incident of Sepang with Marc Marquez, followed by the penalty imposed before Valencia, ruined his chances, and that's Jorge Lorenzo who won the crown. Since that day, for Il Dottore, it has been a wound that refuses to heal.
The rivalry between Rossi et Marquez turned into a full-fledged Cold War. After their clash of 2015, a new episode has come to poison things in 2018 Argentine Grand Prix : this time it's Marquez who hit Rossi by attempting a desperate comeback, throwing the Italian to the ground. The respect between the two men, which had been real a few years earlier, was irreparably shattered.
Even today, when Valentino Rossi has been out of the MotoGP scene since the end of 2021, the animosity remains. Every interview is an opportunity for him to rekindle tensions. He regularly accuses Marquez of "sabotage" in 2015 and openly criticizes his conduct, which he considers "dangerous." Meanwhile, Marc, faithful to his strategy, prefers to ignore the provocations and remain focused on his quest for records.
Graziano Rossi: " I do not support Marquez, as you will understand. »
Resentment is not limited to Rossi himself. His relatives, like Uccio Salucci — his lifelong friend and director of the VR46 team — have not digested the loss of the tenth title. I kill did not hesitate to comment recently, during the Argentine GP, on the progression of Marquez towards the 115 victories for Rossi : " I hope this doesn't happen, but I think it will happen »
Even Graziano Rossi, the father of Valentino, joined this skeptical chorus in an interview for ASHe also prefers to support his son's compatriots, Pecco Bagnaia et Franco Morbidelli, rather than recognizing the exploits of Marquez : " I do not support Marquez, as you will understand. Pecco is great, for me he's the best »
The Cold War Between the Clans Rossi et Marquez seems far from over since it manifested itself in Qatar with Alex Marquez et Fabio DiGiannantonio as protagonists. At least that's what has been analyzed Oscar Haro on motosan … " Who owns Di Giannantonio's team? And what surname are we talking about? I'm not going to say the word hate, because in motorcycling, the word hate is very ugly.. But the VR46 team and Marc Marquez, that's where the sparks fly " he said before continuing: " When he put the bike on Di Giannantonio, the penalty made me feel sorry for Alex, because I have a lot of affection for him, but it was well done. » However, what really shocked him was the team's reaction. VR46 after Alex went to apologize: " What was not done well was that he went to ask for forgiveness and they did not accept it. That is what should not be done. »
And he drives the point home: “ With all this criticism, these people who spoke badly about Marc, who threw oil on the fire... That's what hurt him. If Valentino had been a gentleman, if he had shaken his hand and remained silent, this unnecessary enmity would never have arisen.. » Time passes, generations are renewed in MotoGP, but in the heart of Valentino Rossi and those around him, the scar of 2015 remains raw. And as long as Marc Marquez will continue to climb in the history books, this old grudge shows no signs of abating.
