Marc Marquez is still being asked about his relationship with Valentino Rossi, and it’s hardly surprising considering their rivalry was one of the most memorable in recent memory.
Rossi stepped away from the sport at the end of 2021, but according to Marquez, there hasn’t been any contact between them since then.
The fallout dates back to the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix. Rossi accused Marquez of helping Jorge Lorenzo in the title race before they ended up clashing on track.
Last year in Austria, there was another moment between them – or rather a lack of one. They passed each other in the pit lane without any acknowledgement. Afterward, Marquez said he simply hadn’t seen Rossi.
Marc Marquez tells fans not to hold onto old grudge with Valentino Rossi
During an appearance on Spanish TV show ‘El Objetivo‘, Marquez addressed questions about Rossi again. He made it clear he doesn’t carry any lingering bitterness.
Rossi’s last championship came back in 2009, while Marquez is widely expected to add another title this year, having already matched Rossi’s seven top-class championships.
Speaking last October, he stood up for VR46 Academy rider Marco Bezzecchi following an incident in Indonesia that resulted in a season-ending injury for the Italian.
“They ask, but that’s normal,” said Marquez, who tried to silence the boos directed towards Rossi at last year’s Valencia prizegiving. “Living with resentment is very hard. I don’t want my fans to hold a grudge; I want them to save their energy to applaud me.
“When I was injured it was another rider who got in my way. It was his mistake but no one does it intentionally and people sometimes don’t understand that.”
Marc Marquez addresses the topic MotoGP riders stay quiet about
Marquez had surgery after breaking his collarbone and damaging shoulder ligaments in the Mandalika crash. Before then, he hadn’t missed a race since the 2023 season.
Speaking on El Objetivo, he pointed out that incidents like this have ‘shaped’ his time in MotoGP. His arm injury led to four surgeries between 2020 and 2022, hampering his final years with Honda.
“You push the limits; otherwise, everyone would do it,” he said. “But you get hurt, you risk your life, and we’re aware of that even if we don’t want to talk about it.”
“It’s a taboo subject but when you’re at home relaxed… You have respect for it. If you’ve been hurt, you feel it immediately.”
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