The rivalry between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, one of the most heated in the history of MotoGP, has returned to inflame the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, held in Jerez. The tensions, never completely dormant by the famous clash of Sepang 2015, re-emerged when Rossi, a guest of a post-gara podcast, called Marquez “a pilot who plays dirty” and recalled the controversial episode of 2015, accusing him of deliberately hindered his race to the tenth world title. These words have unleashed the furious reaction of Gemma Gallardo, Marquez’s girlfriend, who on Instagram called Rossi “a cowardly clown” who “speaks too much instead of accepting the past”. The comment, then removed, turned on debates between the fans and brought back to light a feud that seems destined not to go out.
The context of Rossi’s statements is linked to the Spanish GP, where Marquez, riding the official Ducati, won a dominant victory, consolidating his leadership in the 2025 championship. During the weekend, Rossi, present as owner of the VR46 team, released an interview with the podcastMotorsport Republic, returning to 2015: “Marquez did not run to win, but to make me lose. It was the lowest moment of my career”. He added that Marquez’s behavior in Sepang, culminating in a contact that cost Rossi a penalty and the title, “marked a line that no sample should ever overcome”. The words of Rossi, although not new, have rekindled the controversy, above all because they are pronounced in a moment of great shape for Marquez, back from three consecutive victories.
Gallardo’s response came like lightning. In an Instagram Story, Marquez’s partner wrote: “Valentino Rossi is a cowardly clown. He continues to retrieve the past because he cannot lose. Marc is a true champion, he doesn’t need these scripts”. The post, accompanied by an EMOJ of a clown, was canceled after a few hours, but not before the fans screenshot and spread it on platforms like X, where the reactions were polarized. Rossi’s supporters defended the legend of Tavullia, underlining Marquez’s “betrayal” in 2015, while Marquez’s fans praised Gallardo for responding to what they consider a free attack.
Rossi-Marquez rivalry has deep roots. According to many, everything began at the Tavullia ranch in 2014, when Marquez, invited for a friendly event, presented himself with a complete Honda team, irritating Rossi, who saw the gesture as a lack of respect. The tension exploded in 2015, with episodes such as the contact in Argentina and the cut of the Chicane in Assen, culminated in the Sepang clash. Rossi accused Marquez of promoting Jorge Lorenzo, his rival for the title, and the duel in Malaysia ended up with a fall of Marquez and a penalty for Rossi, who left last in Valencia, losing the world championship. Since then, the two have never reconciled, despite Marquez recently called Rossi “among the best five pilots in history” in an interview aThe beach bar.
The Spanish GP added petrol to the fire. Marquez, interviewed by Dazn Spain, minimized Rossi’s words: “I don’t care to respond to a pilot withdrew. I look at the present and my goal, the ninth title”. However, Gallardo’s reaction suggests that Rossi’s words hit the mark, feeding a drama that goes beyond the track. The fans, divided as always, have unleashed on social networks, with hashtags such as #Rossivsmarquez and #Teamvr46 dominating trends.
While Marquez prepares for the next France GP, his season appears unstoppable, but Rossi’s shadow continues to weigh. MotoGP, which lives of legendary rivalries, finds a still open chapter in this feid. Gallardo, with his outburst, has shown that the conflict is not only between the two pilots, but also involves those who surround them. It remains to be seen if Rossi will answer or if, as he has often done, he will let the clamor goes away by himself. What is certain is that, at ten years from Sepang, the 2015 wound is still open, and neither Rossi nor Marquez seem ready to close it.
