Marco Bezzecchi
There have been some intense feuds throughout the history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s premier class.
In the high-adrenaline, unforgiving landscape of MotoGP, it’s natural for tensions to boil over between on-track rivals at one point or another.
From royal interventions to pre-podium punches, here are the five biggest rivalries in the history of MotoGP:
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5. Jorge Lorenzo vs. Dani Pedrosa
The rivalry between Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa began in the smaller Grand Prix classes and continued upon their promotion into MotoGP.
Things boiled over during a 250cc race at the Sachsenring, where a crash between the two Spaniards led Lorenzo’s manager to advise Pedrosa to change his helmet as he was clearly blind.
Their relationship continued to grow sour. Upon Lorenzo’s fairytale podium at his debut MotoGP race in 2008, Pedrosa refused to congratulate or even look at his compatriot during the post-race ceremony.
Lorenzo felt like Pedrosa’s presence was ‘unbearable’, and a royal intervention came later on in the year.
During the podium celebrations of the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix, King Juan Carlos I of Spain famously grabbed the hands of both riders and forced them to shake hands.
4. Mick Doohan vs. Alex Criville
The rivalry between Mick Doohan and Alex Criville culminated in an internal war at the factory Honda team. The Spaniard was sick of his counterpart’s dominance, and he was determined to claim the limelight for himself.
The 1996 Spanish Grand Prix was their most infamous encounter. After local fans took to the track prematurely to the chequered flag, a distracted Criville crashed at the final corner, allowing Doohan to snatch a controversial Grand Prix victory.
After years of finishing in the five-time world champion’s shadow, Criville finally claimed the 1999 world title following the Australian’s career-ending injury.
Criville became the first Spaniard to conquer the premier class, paving the way for future MotoGP world champions from the Iberian country.
3. Valentino Rossi vs. Max Biaggi
Not one to shy away from rivalries, Valentino Rossi’s first rivalry on this list also happened to be his first of the illustrious Grand Prix motorcycle racing career that The Doctor went on to have.
Max Biaggi was already a two-time world champion in the 250cc class before Rossi had made his debut, and it wasn’t long before the two riders locked heads.
Tension was present between the two riders before they had even met each other on track. The toxicity reached a boiling point in 2001, with Rossi and Biaggi coming to blows ahead of the podium ceremony at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The feud is often referred to as the catalyst for the Italian’s future rivals with other riders on the MotoGP grid, and a rivalry was something that Rossi was never short of during his career.
2. Kevin Schwantz vs. Wayne Rainey
Their rivalry between Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey was born during the AMA Superbike championship before exploding in MotoGP.
The two Americans shared a genuine mutual dislike for years, and they often admitted that beating each other was their only priority.
Now two proud inductees of MotoGP’s Hall of Fame, the rivalry produced some of the most iconic battles ever seen in the premier class.
One example was their battle at Hockenheim in 1991. Schwantz famously pulled off a last-gasp, late-braking manoeuvre on the final lap to snatch a victory from his arch-nemesis.
The rivalry ended in tragedy at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix. Rainey suffered a horrific crash that left him paralysed, which, in turn, handed the world title to a devastated Schwantz.
Schwantz would later admit that the joy of winning his only world title was hollow without Rainey to compete against.
1. Marc Marquez vs. Valentino Rossi
The rivalry between Rossi and Marc Marquez is the most explosive of the modern era.
After Rossi believed that Marquez was aiding Jorge Lorenzo’s 2015 title charge, a series of verbal attacks in the media ensued.
The 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix provided the most controversial moment in the sport’s history. A heated on-track battle ended with Marquez crashing out following a deliberate wide line that seemed to end with a kick from the Italian legend.
The fallout from the clash cost Rossi his chance at a tenth world title and effectively ended their relationship.
To this day, the rift between the two legends remains unresolved and the MotoGP fans around the world remain divided.
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