Valentino Rossi may have stepped away from MotoGP after the 2021 season, but his rivalry with Marc Marquez still lingers in the paddock.
Rossi has switched his focus to endurance racing, yet remains connected to MotoGP through his VR46 team. On the other hand, Marquez is back at the top of the sport, matching Rossi’s tally of nine Grand Prix championships in 2025.
The two clashed repeatedly over titles during the 2010s. Marquez took six championships with Honda during that period, and their confrontations became a central storyline in MotoGP history.
The infamous incident at Sepang in 2015, when Rossi appeared to kick Marquez off track, sparked long-lasting tensions between their fan bases. Even now in 2025, those divides are clear – each rider is met with boos when appearing at their rival’s home circuit.
Marquez calls for respect after Rossi booed at Valencia prizegiving
Marc Marquez had his say after Valentino Rossi was jeered during the end-of-season prizegiving ceremony in Valencia, asking fans to “respect everyone.”
The crowd also whistled and jeered when images and videos of Rossi appeared on the big screens inside the venue.
Marquez missed the race and will also miss the post-season test due to an injury picked up in Mandalika. But he still attended to collect his awards and commented on how Rossi was treated by fans.
When presented with the award for ‘Best Overtake’ of the year, Marquez responded with a simple message: “The only thing I can say is please respect everyone.”
Is there any hope of reconciliation between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez?
Marquez has spoken about what it means to match Rossi’s achievements in MotoGP, and a title win in 2026 with Ducati would push him ahead of the Italian with ten premier class titles.
Still, many believe Marquez will never reach Rossi’s level of popularity. Journalist Mat Oxley once said that Rossi was ‘bigger than motorcycle racing’ during his peak years in the 2000s.
The two haven’t spoken since then, and Marquez has been clear that he doesn’t see any reason to patch things up. In his words, “I don’t need him and he doesn’t need me.”
Andrea Migno, who knows both riders well, doesn’t see any chance of reconciliation. He said there is “no chance” that Rossi will ever forgive Marquez for what happened in 2015.
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