Jorge Lorenzo points out what is never ‘mentioned’ about Valentino Rossi’s feud with Marc Marquez

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Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez are two of the all-time greatest riders to grace the MotoGP grid, and their rivalry continues to be a topic of debate long after their duels.

The Italian and Spanish legends are also now matched on seven premier class titles and nine world championships across all three classes. Marquez won the 2025 MotoGP riders’ title to move level with Rossi, with only Giacomo Agostini now ahead of him on eight 500cc crowns.

Marquez also sealed each of his first six MotoGP titles while sharing the grid with Rossi, who had already earned his seven premier class titles before the Cervera native debuted in 2013. Rossi also only finished second with Marquez in the field during the ‘14, ‘15 and ‘16 seasons.

The 2015 MotoGP season was a key crossroads in Rossi and Marquez’s rivalry, as well. Rossi accused Marquez of deliberately not winning the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, which also led to their crash in Malaysia when the Yamaha icon seemed to kick the Spaniard off his Honda.

Jorge Lorenzo believes no one mentions that Italian riders helped Valentino Rossi against Marc Marquez

Many still discuss Rossi kicking Marquez off his Honda in the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix and the supposed tactics that the Spaniard used in Australia to try to help Jorge Lorenzo win that year’s riders’ title. Yet Lorenzo believes people always overlook the riders who helped Rossi.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Valentino Rossi from stats to net worth

While Lorenzo does not want to start a “controversy”, the Spaniard believes every aspect of Rossi and Marquez’s feud must be considered – including the help the Italian’s compatriots in Danilo Petrucci, Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone gave despite riding for rival teams.

Lorenzo recently told Corriere della Sera: “More than helping me, I think he decided not to help Rossi. But we need to be objective. Many Italian riders – from Petrucci to Dovizioso to Iannone – helped Valentino, letting him pass easily, even if this aspect isn’t mentioned.

“It’s always said that Marquez didn’t want to win that race, but there were many factors at play. For example, I believe that Valentino’s manoeuvre in Malaysia, when he pushed Marc off the track, would have normally resulted in a black flag and a disqualification.

“I don’t want to start a controversy. I’m saying that if we want to settle the matter, we need to consider every perspective.”

Valentino Rossi could have avoided his feud with Marc Marquez at the 2015 Argentina Grand Prix

Lorenzo also believes Rossi could easily have avoided his rivalry with Marquez reaching the point where the Honda hero wanted anyone but the Yamaha icon winning. Their feud truly started at the 2015 Argentina Grand Prix, when Rossi won after a late crash with Marquez.

Marquez is not interested in resolving his bitter feud with Rossi today unless the Italian puts in the effort to end their rivalry. And Lorenzo feels Rossi only had to make a “simple” gesture to Marquez after the contact saw the Spaniard retire from the 2015 Argentina GP at Termas.

“It was a happy ending for me,” Lorenzo added. “I think I won because I had been the best during the year in terms of wins and pole positions.

“The problem arose between Valentino and Marc in Argentina when Marquez crashed in a collision. Their relationship changed. Perhaps Valentino could have eased the tension immediately after the race with a simple diplomatic gesture. That didn’t happen.

“And Marquez himself said that because of that collision, he wouldn’t have helped Rossi win the world championship. I benefited from that war.”

Marquez crashed out of the 2015 Argentina GP on the penultimate lap after he tangled with Rossi at Turn 5. The Spaniard had led comfortably for a majority of the event, but Rossi came back in the closing laps after using the hard rear tyre compared to his rival with the medium.

The superior grip made Rossi much faster than Marquez, who initially rebuffed his rival at T2 when the Italian made his first move. But Marquez could not snap straight back at Turn 5, so he sought to get the switchback and rubbed Rossi, which made the Italian sit up on the exit.

Yet Marquez hanging on around Rossi’s outside for the run to Turn 6 yielded further contact, which saw the former crash. Rossi had a glance over his right shoulder before pulling slightly inside to open his line for T6, yet Marquez’s line meant his front wheel tagged his rival’s rear.