Marco Melandri names which MotoGP legend is more ‘selfish’ – Valentino Rossi or Marc Marquez

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Marc Marquez will be gunning to equal Valentino Rossi’s feat of seven MotoGP titles in 2025. He would also match the Italian’s title of nine motorcycle Grand Prix titles.

The Ducati rider has started the 2025 season in fine style. Marquez achieved a clean sweep in Thailand and Argentina and is fully expected to repeat that feat at the Grand Prix of the Americas.

Marquez is the most successful rider at COTA, with seven wins with Honda between 2013 and 2021. A third win of the season this weekend would put the Spaniard in a prime position to win the MotoGP title.

Marquez is already 31 points ahead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia in third and leads his brother Alex Marquez by 16 points in second. At this stage, the 32-year-old looks unstoppable.

Rossi’s entourage are worried about Marquez’s form – and the bitter rivalry between the pair would no doubt bring satisfaction to the former if he claims the 2025 title.

Marco Melandri says Marc Marquez is ‘more selfish’ than Valentino Rossi

Marco Melandri raced against both Marquez and Rossi in 2015 after he returned to MotoGP from a five-year hiatus. The pair lost the title that season to Jorge Lorenzo.

Rossi finished runner-up to Marquez in 2014 and 2016 when their rivalry was at its most fierce point. The MotoGP legends both displayed the hunger and selfishness to be a champion – as Melandri put it.

However, speaking to Moto.It, the 2002 250cc champion thinks Marquez was more ‘selfish’ out of the two. Asked who is a stronger rider out of the 32-year-old and Lorenzo, he said: “Here I tell you Marquez.

“Because from the first test, the first day he got on the MotoGP in Valencia after two outings I was with [Alberto] Vergani and I told him ‘he’s going to win the world championship in his first year’ because he’s hungry…

“I mean from a certain point of view he’s Rossi 2, because he’s more of an a——, more selfish, I mean they’re along the same lines and to be a champion you have to be like that, but he’s evolved and for me he’ll be the man to beat this year because he’s too hungry.

“After what he’s been through in these years he’s even hungrier”

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend

Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi’s rivalry is still felt in MotoGP today

While Rossi retired from MotoGP in 2021 and now competes in sportscar racing, his rivalry with Marquez is still felt today. The Spaniard’s Ducati teammate Bagnaia is a product of Rossi’s VR46 academy.

However, Scott Redding says Bagnaia and Rossi are completely different in their approach to Marquez. While the latter seemed to stoke hostility among the fans, the former has tired to silence boos towards the Spaniard.

Bagnaia intends to play fair with Marquez in 2025 and continue his ‘gentleman’ persona. However, the mark Rossi left behind is having its effect on the 28-year-old.

According to his father, Bagnaia is hated by some fans due to his ties to Rossi. This further proves the hostility that was present during their battle at Yamaha and Honda.