The MotoGP world is no stranger to drama, but when a decade-old feud reignites, it sends shockwaves through the paddock. In a stunning turn of events, Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna has found himself caught in the crossfire of a renewed rivalry between MotoGP legends Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez. Rossi’s recent comments, accusing Marquez of playing “dirty” during the infamous 2015 MotoGP season, have not only stirred controversy but also left Dall’Igna reeling, as the accusations threaten to cast a shadow over Ducati’s dominant 2025 campaign.

The 2015 MotoGP season remains one of the most contentious in the sport’s history. Rossi, then riding for Yamaha, was locked in a fierce championship battle with teammate Jorge Lorenzo. However, it was his clashes with Marquez, the young Honda prodigy, that defined the season. Tensions boiled over at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, where Rossi was accused of deliberately knocking Marquez off his bike during a heated on-track duel. The incident led to Rossi being penalized with a back-of-the-grid start for the season finale in Valencia, ultimately costing him the championship by just five points to Lorenzo. Rossi has long maintained that Marquez was conspiring to aid Lorenzo, a claim that Marquez has consistently denied.

Fast forward to 2024, when Rossi, now a retired MotoGP icon and a factory BMW driver in the World Endurance Championship, reignited the feud on the MigBagol podcast hosted by VR46 Academy coach Andrea Migno. Reflecting on his career, Rossi doubled down on his accusations, alleging that Marquez’s aggressive tactics were not only unsportsmanlike but deliberately aimed at sabotaging his title hopes. “He tried to make me fall three or four times,” Rossi recounted, describing the Sepang clash. “I didn’t want to knock him down, but he fell. He made me lose the world championship.” These explosive remarks have sparked a firestorm, with fans and pundits divided over whether Rossi’s accusations hold water or are merely the lingering bitterness of a lost title.

For Gigi Dall’Igna, who has steered Ducati to unprecedented success in MotoGP, the revival of this feud is a headache he didn’t need. Since Marquez joined Ducati in 2024, first with Gresini Racing and now as a factory rider alongside reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, Dall’Igna has been vocal about his admiration for the eight-time world champion. “Marc has shown his unquestionable talent and adapted perfectly to our Desmosedici,” Dall’Igna said in June 2024, justifying his decision to sign Marquez to the factory team for 2025. Yet, Rossi’s comments have put Dall’Igna in an awkward position, given his historical ties to both riders. In 2021, Dall’Igna navigated the sensitive reunion between Ducati and Rossi’s VR46 team, acknowledging Rossi’s monumental influence on the sport while maintaining a diplomatic stance.

The accusations also raise questions about the dynamics within Ducati’s current roster. Marquez’s arrival has been a masterstroke, with the Spaniard delivering a masterclass at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, securing pole, the sprint, and the Grand Prix while setting the fastest lap. Dall’Igna described it as “not just a victory, but a demonstration” of Marquez’s genius. However, Rossi’s VR46 Academy, which has deep roots in Italian MotoGP culture, still wields significant influence, and his comments could stoke tensions among fans, particularly in Italy, where Marquez has faced animosity from Rossi loyalists.

Dall’Igna has firmly denied any favoritism toward Marquez, emphasizing Ducati’s policy of providing equal equipment to all riders. “Marc had exactly the same bike as the others,” he stated in March 2025, quashing rumors of special treatment during Marquez’s Gresini stint. Yet, the renewed Rossi-Marquez feud threatens to disrupt the harmony Dall’Igna has worked tirelessly to maintain. “The environment in the Ducati team is wonderful, and the objective is to keep it that way,” he noted in 2024, aware of the challenges posed by managing high-profile riders.

As MotoGP heads toward the Jerez Grand Prix, the paddock is buzzing with speculation. Will Rossi’s accusations impact Marquez’s focus, or will the Spaniard channel the controversy into more on-track brilliance? For Dall’Igna, the task is clear: keep Ducati’s championship aspirations on track while navigating the fallout from a feud that refuses to die. One thing is certain—the 2015 ghosts are back, and they’re haunting MotoGP’s present.