The 2025 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring was not just another chapter in Marc Marquez’s dominant MotoGP season but also a moment that reignited one of the sport’s most infamous rivalries. Marquez, the eight-time world champion, clinched a commanding victory in the sprint race, extending his championship lead to 123 points. However, the race’s aftermath drew global attention when Marquez, in a candid interview, explained why he did not acknowledge Valentino Rossi in the pitlane before the race, stating bluntly, “I don’t respect him.” This moment, captured on the live world feed, has set social media ablaze and brought the decade-long feud between Marquez and Rossi back into the spotlight.

The tension between Marquez and Rossi, which began in 2015, remains one of the most polarizing sagas in MotoGP history. That year, Rossi accused Marquez of sabotaging his championship bid to favor Jorge Lorenzo, culminating in a controversial clash at the Malaysian Grand Prix where Rossi was penalized for causing Marquez to crash. The incident led to Rossi starting the season finale in Valencia from the back of the grid, ultimately costing him the title. Since then, their relationship has been marked by frosty exchanges and public jabs, with Rossi repeatedly calling Marquez’s actions “unforgivable” and Marquez maintaining a more reserved stance, focusing on his racing. The 2025 Austrian GP, marking the 10th anniversary of their fallout, saw this animosity resurface in dramatic fashion.

Marquez’s decision not to greet Rossi, who was present to support his VR46 Racing Team, was not a spontaneous act. As reported by GPOne, Marquez explained, “I didn’t see him, I swear. I was focused on my own stuff, looking at the ground, thinking about the race.” However, when pressed further by Spanish media, he elaborated, “Respect is earned, and I don’t respect him. We’ve had our history, and I’m here to race, not to play nice for the cameras.” This statement, raw and unfiltered, reflects Marquez’s frustration with the lingering narrative surrounding their rivalry, particularly as he chases Rossi’s record of seven premier-class titles and 89 MotoGP wins. With 69 wins to his name after surpassing Giacomo Agostini’s tally, Marquez admitted in a DAZN interview that equaling Rossi’s titles is “more feasible” than reaching his win count, but the emotional weight of their feud clearly remains.

Rossi, now 46 and retired from MotoGP since 2021, has scaled back his car racing commitments to focus on his VR46 team and family life after the birth of his second child. His presence at the Austrian GP, marked by his signature yellow cap, was a nod to his enduring influence in the sport. Yet, Marquez’s snub and subsequent comments have reignited debates among fans, with some praising Marquez’s honesty and others condemning it as disrespectful to a MotoGP legend. Posts on X captured the moment, with one user noting, “Marc and Valentino passing each other without a glance is peak drama. This feud will never die.” The sentiment underscores the enduring divide between their fanbases, fueled by years of on-track battles and off-track accusations.

The 2015 season remains a raw wound for Rossi and his supporters. Rossi’s claims that Marquez deliberately raced to hinder him at Phillip Island and Sepang have been echoed by his inner circle, including VR46 boss Uccio Salucci and his father, Graziano Rossi, who recently expressed hope that Marquez would not surpass Valentino’s 115 career wins. Meanwhile, Marquez’s resurgence with Ducati in 2025, where he has won eight grands prix and 11 sprints in 12 events, has intensified the scrutiny. His dominance, as noted by Crash.net, puts him on track to potentially eclipse Rossi’s records by 2026, adding fuel to the rivalry even without Rossi on the grid.

For Marquez, the Austrian GP incident was less about Rossi and more about his focus on securing a seventh MotoGP title. His performance, described by TNT Sports’ Suzi Perry as “genius on a motorcycle,” showcases a rider at the peak of his powers. Yet, his refusal to engage with Rossi highlights a deeper truth: the scars of 2015 run deep, and reconciliation, as Marquez noted in a July 2025 DAZN interview, “doesn’t depend on just me.” The MotoGP paddock, accustomed to their cold war, now watches as Marquez’s pursuit of greatness intertwines with a rivalry that refuses to fade. As the season progresses, this latest chapter ensures that the Marquez-Rossi saga will remain a defining narrative in the sport’s history.