Marco Bezzecchi
The events of the 2015 MotoGP season still ripple through the sport today, and Julian Ryder has recently recalled the ‘poisonous atmosphere’ that was present within the Yamaha hospitality building after Jorge Lorenzo beat Valentino Rossi to the title.
Valentino Rossi’s kick on Marc Marquez during the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix is one of the most controversial moments to occur in the glittering history of the premier class.
The Doctor’s lash out was in response to the sentiment that he held regarding Marquez’s actions against him in previous races.
The Yamaha rider felt like his fierce rival was trying to impede him and aid Jorge Lorenzo to his third and final world championship.
In the end, Lorenzo reigned victorious, but his victory parade at the factory Yamaha outfit was non-existent, due to the fury that the majority of the team felt about Rossi missing out on another title for himself.
Julian Ryder and Nick Harris recall the ‘poisonous atmosphere’ at the 2015 MotoGP title decider
In a recent episode of the Racing Back podcast, legendary MotoGP commentators Nick Harris and Julian Ryder recalled the aftermath of the on-track action at Valencia in 2015.
The segment began by Harris recalling the sportsmanship of Nicky Hayden’s father following his son’s championship feat over Rossi in the 2006 premier class title fight.
He said, “Earl Hayden, I remember soon as he’d celebrated with Nicky, he went and knocked on the door of Valentino’s motor home and shook his hand and everything. Wasn’t like that in 2015, was it?”
“No. I was thinking, happy days and then… 2015 at Valencia, the atmosphere was poisonous,” Ryder replied.
Harris continued, “Oh my golly, they had riot police there and everything. They weren’t needed, but I think everybody was worried. Nobody knew what was going to happen.”
Ryder then recalled Yamaha’s response after the chequered flag, saying, “No, because Yamaha cancelled the celebration.
“I went in towards the Yamaha hospitality after the race, and it was more like a very unpleasant extremist political rally going on. The atmosphere was genuinely poisonous.”
Valentino Rossi refuses to reconcile with Marc Marquez over the incident
After all these years, the Italian icon has refused to open up a dialogue with his fierce nemesis to set things straight regarding the events of the 2015 MotoGP campaign.
A member of #46’s camp questions why Rossi would ‘forgive’ Marquez given the fact that his actions hurt the then-Yamaha rider quite deeply.
With Rossi’s last title-winning season coming in 2009, 2015 is widely regarded as the MotoGP legend’s final genuine shot at securing a tenth world title in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and an eighth in the premier class.
In fairness, Marquez isn’t interested in resolving the feud either, ruling any possibility of a reconciliation between the two heavyweights of the premier class anytime soon.
Maybe, just maybe, we might see the two riders come together again once Marquez follows his bitter rival into retirement.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
