The rivalry between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, one of the most iconic and controversial in the history of MotoGP, has returned to occupy the spotlight after an explosive declaration attributed to Rossi. During a private conversation with Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, Rossi would have called Marquez “a coward” for his aggressive driving style and for the famous episode of Sepang 2015, which still feeds tensions between the two. The phrase, leaked through rumors reported on platforms such as X, aroused the wrath of Sundays, which considers Marquez a fundamental resource for the official Ducati team in 2025. This new chapter of their feud has rekindled the debate between the fans and questioned the relationship between Rossi and the house of Borgo Panigale.
The context of the declaration dates back to the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, where Marquez dominated the race, strengthening his position as a leader in the championship with the Ducati Desmosici Gp25. Rossi, present as the owner of the VR46 team, who runs with Ducati motorcycles, would have expressed his disappointment to Domenicali in a meeting behind closed doors. According to anonymous sources, Rossi would have criticized Marquez not only for the past, but also for his tactics on the track, defined as “unfair” and “codardo” because they are aimed at destabilizing opponents rather than winning cleanly. The reference to Sepang 2015, when a contact between the two cost Rossi a penalty and the world title, was inevitable.
The reaction of Sundays was immediate and furious. Marquez, who brought Ducati back to the top after years of domination Yamaha and Honda, is considered untouchable by the Italian house. Domenicali would have defended the Spanish pilot, underlining his eight world titles and the contribution to the success of the team, which in 2025 has already won five wins in six races. The rumors suggest that Domenicali reproached Rossi for having reopened an old wound, warning him that these comments could compromise the partnership between Ducati and the VR46 team, which depends on the technical supplies of the parent company.
The Faida Rossi-Marquez is one of the most followed in motorsport. It all began in 2014, when Marquez, then a nascent star, trained at the Rossi ranch but brought with him a Honda entourage, perceived as a provocation. The tension exploded in 2015 with a series of clashes on the track: the contact in Argentina, the overtaking at the limit in Assen and, finally, the Sepang episode, where Rossi accused Marquez of having hindered him to favor Jorge Lorenzo. The penalty imposed in Rossi, who forced him to leave last in Valencia, marked the end of his hopes of title and the beginning of a hostility never remedied. Although Marquez recently praised Rossi as “a legend” in an interview aMark, the two have never restored a friendly relationship.
Rossi’s declaration divided the fans. On X, the supporters of the “doctor” defend his frankness, claiming that Marquez often passed the limit of fair play. Others, however, accuse Rossi of not knowing how to accept Marquez’s superiority, who at 32 is still at the top while Rossi retired in 2021. Marquez’s response was measured: interviewed bySky Sport Italia, he said: “I don’t comment on words said in private. I run to win, not to answer”. However, the tension is palpable, and the episode risks complicating relationships within the Ducati ecosystem.
While the MotoGP circus is preparing for the France GP, the rivalry between Rossi and Marquez continues to catalyze attention, showing that their clash goes beyond the track. For Ducati, the situation is delicate: on the one hand, Marquez is the present and future of the brand; On the other, Rossi remains a charismatic figure whose team VR46 brings visibility. Domenicali, known for his pragmatic approach, could seek mediation, but the passion of the fans and the unsolved history between the two pilots make a respite unlikely. Ten years of Sepang, the wound is still open, and Rossi’s words show that the past is never really buried.
