From idolising Valentino Rossi, to turning into pals with the nine-time world champion, to then having one of many extra heated rivalries in MotoGP historical past, right here’s a glance again at what went unsuitable between Marc Marquez and the adored Italian.
Each riders have arguably had the 2 most dominant stretches of success the premier class has ever seen, and after witnessing the 2 greats battle it out for a number of years – Marquez did a lot of the profitable throughout that point – it’s no shock that the 2 stay the game’s largest icons, even with Rossi having retired on the finish of 2021 and Marquez having fun with very restricted success of late.
However with that stated, their time spent on-track collectively went by means of numerous troublesome patches, together with an incident at Malaysia that may dwell lengthy within the reminiscence.
Idolising Rossi quickly was aggressive gasoline for six-time MotoGP champion Marquez
After having posters of Valentino Rossi on his wall as a child, the connection between Marquez and Rossi started with the 2 posing collectively for pictures. That was earlier than Marquez was wherever near turning into a MotoGP rider.
Probably the most notable photograph was of Marquez as a baby assembly Rossi and getting a diecast mannequin signed by the charismatic Italian.
However as soon as Marc Marquez progressed by means of Moto3 and Moto2, a aggressive want to beat his idol was already evident in his rookie MotoGP season (2013).
Regardless of being a rookie, Marquez received the world championship earlier than consolidating his success with a dominant 2014 marketing campaign.
Marquez, German MotoGP 2017
© Gold and Goose
Whereas racing was onerous between the 2, it by no means bought out of hand as Marquez would typically draw again to how a lot he respects and admires Rossi throughout press conferences or interviews.
Did Valentino Rossi kick Marc Marquez?
However then got here 2015, a season the place Rossi was going for title #10 (eighth in MotoGP), whereas a considerably troublesome Honda to journey, together with errors from Marquez left the Spaniard out of rivalry.
As a substitute, the 2015 title struggle was an all-Yamaha affair, and that’s when issues turned fascinating, let’s say.
After taking factors off Jorge Lorenzo in Australia when he pipped the Yamaha rider to victory, issues turned bitter on the subsequent race when Marquez and Rossi got here collectively in Sepang.
In what was rapidly turning into a private battle, Marquez was placing very aggressive strikes on Rossi, which in-turn generated comparable overtakes from the Italian.
Clearly of the idea that Marquez was doing his utmost to assist Lorenzo and because of this price him the world championship, phrases the seven-time MotoGP champion used after the occasions of Malaysia, Rossi famously went to the within of Marquez at flip 14 earlier than showing to purposely knock Marquez off.
With replays obtainable, it was clear that Rossi’s leg bought caught on Marquez’s bike and that it was not an intentional transfer, however Rossi going slowly alongside him and Marquez then falling off his RC213V when contact was made, a penalty that may see Rossi begin from final was awarded for Valencia.
As anticipated, Lorenzo went on to win the race after setting a brand new lap document, resulting in Rossi lacking out on a tenth title he craved a lot.
Malaysia 2015 wasn’t the primary main incident between the 2, as a coming-together in Argentina (similar season) was additionally a giant turning level of their relationship. Making an attempt to beat Rossi on the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, Marquez crashed out after clipping the rear of Rossi’s M1.
Marquez causes Rossi to crash in Argentina
However this was nothing in comparison with Argentina 2018 when one other big incident occurred between the pair…
After stalling his Repsol Honda on the grid, Marquez was in a position to retake his grid place. However after a number of laps, the Spaniard was hit with a ride-through penalty.
With Marquez the quickest rider on the circuit, the now 29 year-old started a mighty cost by means of the sector, nevertheless, aggression was getting the higher of the Honda rider.
Following a number of moments of contact with different riders, certainly one of them being an incident the place he bumped into the again of Aleix Espargaro and pushed the Aprilia rider extensive, Marquez got here up behind Rossi for sixth.
As he tried to arrange a transfer into the ultimate right-hander (penultimate nook), Marquez went late on the brakes with Rossi nonetheless forward, which led to Marquez making comparable contact to that of his conflict with Espargaro, however this time it triggered Rossi to crash. Marquez was subsequently hit with a 30-second time penalty.
Marquez ‘destroyed our sport’ – Rossi
Following the incident, Marquez walked to the Yamaha storage however was advised to go away instantly, and it goes with out saying that the connection has by no means been repaired.
Talking in regards to the incident, Rossi delivered robust feedback after the race: “This can be a very unhealthy scenario, as a result of he destroyed our sport, as a result of he [doesn’t] have any respect for his rivals, by no means.”
Valentino Rossi
© Gold and Goose
“You can also make a mistake in braking, you’ll be able to contact the opposite man – it occurs, that is racing.
“However from Friday morning, he [did] this with [Maverick] Vinales, [Andrea] Dovizioso.
“He [did] this with me on Saturday morning, and at the moment within the race he went straight into 4 riders, as a result of he [does this] purposely.”
A response from Marquez was fast as he dismissed any notion of it being intentional, and that it was merely a ‘mistake’.
“About this [incident] after all I’m fully disenchanted. In my profession I by no means go straight to at least one rider considering that he’ll crash, all the time I attempt to keep away from, after all.
“Typically [when] you overtake, it’s nearer, generally it’s clear. Right now what occurred to Valentino was a mistake, [a] consequence of the observe situations as a result of I [locked] the entrance.”
One of many ultimate moments of controversy between the 2 was throughout the identical 2018 season as Marquez was blanked in his try and shake fingers with Rossi at Misano.
Requested if there could possibly be peace between them throughout the pre-event press convention, Marquez claimed ‘that may be good’ and provided his hand, to which Rossi shook his head and stated ‘we don’t have to shake the hand’.
