Valentino Rossi Recalls Sepang Clash
“Dia hanya bertarung agar saya kalah, dan pada akhirnya, dia berhasil,” Valentino Rossi said, according to Crash, as the Italian motorcycle racing legend revisited the contentious 2015 MotoGP season.
Valentino Rossi admitted he still harbors deep resentment toward Marc Marquez over their infamous collision at the Malaysian Grand Prix, detikSport reported. Rossi still believes that Marquez sabotaged his championship chances, continuing to speak out publicly about the alleged plot.
Autobiography Promotion Brings Back 2015 Pain
The television appearance was hosted by prominent Italian presenter Fabio Fazio, where Rossi discussed the fascinating moments recorded in his book, noting that the autobiography covers his rivalries with all MotoGP riders rather than just the incident with Marquez.
Rossi explained that the lingering anger stems from the specific dynamics of the 2015 title fight, which was contested exclusively between himself and Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo. According to Beritasatu.com, Rossi expressed frustration that Marquez intervened in the championship race despite having no mathematical chance of claiming the title himself.
Rossi added that everyone has their limits, some low and some high, but described the 2015 story as even more absurd and infuriating because Marquez was not fighting for the championship title, pointing out that other riders simply allowed him and Lorenzo to battle it out to the end.
The Italian rider remarked that out of all the wonderful moments in his life, that unpleasant fragment is the one he wishes he could forget every time he looks in the mirror, though human nature causes people to always remember the moments that cause disappointment.
Rossi Starts Valencia from the Back After Sepang Penalty
The feud erupted during the race at Sepang on lap seven, when contact between Rossi and Marquez resulted in Marquez crashing out of the race. Following the Sepang collision, Marquez returned to the paddock while Rossi continued the race.
Race direction penalized Rossi with three penalty points, which, combined with earlier infractions, forced the Italian rider to start the season finale at Valencia from the very back of the grid in 26th position.
Despite charging through the field to finish fourth at Valencia, Rossi missed out on the crown.
Lasting Impact on Modern MotoGP
Kompas.com noted that the fallout from the 2015 season permanently fractured the relationship between Rossi and Marquez, creating a divide among fans that persists as Marquez pursues further world championship success, with the Spaniard’s eighth premier-class title potentially to be locked up as early as the following week at the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao.
Rossi’s decision to bring up the 2015 Sepang events once again has generated negative responses on social media, with public perception risking a shift away from appreciation for his extraordinary racing career as his frustration over 2015 appears to deepen. Rossi admitted that the memories remain as sharp as they were a decade ago, leaving him occasionally troubled by his inability to move past the defeat.
/data/photo/2026/10/04/6ac200c9b42e3.jpg "Photo: Kompas.com")
“It is something that truly never disappears, it still hurts,” Rossi said, via Crash. “More than 10 years have passed, but my feelings and state of mind when thinking about it remain the same as that night in Valencia, and that worries me a little.”
Reflecting further on his mental struggle with the defeat, Rossi shared what he often tells himself when looking in the mirror. “Often I look in the mirror and say to myself, ‘Hey, do not focus just on that defeat, but maybe look at the other defeats,'” Rossi reflected, adding a final perspective on competitive sports: “But that is the world of sports: defeats hurt much more than victories.”
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