Marco Bezzecchi
Valentino Rossi’s incredible talent and popularity in MotoGP were one thing, but his intense rivalries captured all the headlines over the years.
In his 22-season stint in MotoGP, which saw him win seven championships, Rossi made many enemies on the grid. Rivalries with the likes of Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez dominated the paddock, and they are still remembered to this day.
The 2015 season is etched in the minds of fans and experts as the trio fought for the title. Rossi accused Marquez of helping Lorenzo to win the title – the No.99 rider would beat the pair that year.
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Rossi often sparked controversy battling Marquez, like at Assen and Sepang in 2015
Valentino Rossi always needed a ‘pantomime villain’ in MotoGP
It was not just Lorenzo and Marquez that Rossi had conflict with on and off the track. As journalist Simon Patterson noted on The Race MotoGP Podcast, the Doctor ‘always needed someone to hate’.
Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau and Casey Stoner were among others that Rossi clashed with during his career. Patterson says MotoGP is usually a friendly paddock where everyone gets along well, but the No.46 rider was always sparking controversy.
He said: “So, I’m going to say something a bit controversial. I’d argue that MotoGP has pretty much always been like that, with the exception of one guy who felt the need to create b——- to make himself more motivated.
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“Valentino Rossi always needed a pantomime villain. He always needed a counterpoint, a Yin to his Yang. He always needed someone to hate to race against.
“And he went through, what, five of them. Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau, the loveliest guy in the world, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez. And the rest of the time, everyone else got on pretty well.”
Colleague Matt Beer added: “Now I would say that I’m judging them because they’re around Rossi. Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo were people who were not going to hold back, but they kind of, in large part, responded to what they were dealt as well.”
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Lorenzo thought Rossi was too slow in 2015, which he believed cost him the title that year instead of his rivalry with him and Marquez.
The Doctor needed that extra motivation to win on the track, and Patterson added that his enemies reacted differently to Rossi’s intimidation tactics.
“Yeah. I mean, Casey just doesn’t care. Casey just doesn’t play any games because he doesn’t care. Lorenzo, do you remember whenever Lorenzo was like trying to be Rossi for the longest time in his victory celebrations and stuff? And yeah, I think it’s all Valentino’s fault.”
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