“I DON’T RESPECT HIM” — Marc Márquez Explains Decision Not to Greet Valentino Rossi After Winning the 2025 Austrian GP
🔥 MotoGP fans were left stunned after Marc Márquez, fresh off his long-awaited victory at the Red Bull Ring, refused to acknowledge Valentino Rossi during a tense moment captured on live broadcast. The two legends crossed paths in pit lane before the sprint race, but neither exchanged a word or glance. When asked post-race why he didn’t greet Rossi, Márquez responded bluntly: “I don’t respect him. Not after everything that happened.” The statement reignited one of the sport’s most infamous rivalries.
💬 The tension between Márquez and Rossi dates back to 2015, when a controversial clash at Sepang fractured their relationship. Despite Rossi’s retirement in 2021 and his continued presence as a team owner, the two have never reconciled. Márquez’s win in Austria — his first ever at the Red Bull Ring — was symbolic, not just for his championship campaign, but for finally conquering a circuit that had eluded him for years. Yet, the emotional weight of matching Rossi’s seven premier-class titles has clearly reopened old wounds.
📸 Fans and media reacted instantly, with social media exploding over the icy exchange. Dorna’s cameras captured what many called “the clip of the year” — Márquez walking past Rossi without a glance, sunglasses on, focused solely on the grid. Rossi, meanwhile, was seen smiling and chatting with Casey Stoner, but noticeably silent when asked about Márquez’s remarks. The moment has sparked renewed debate about legacy, rivalry, and whether MotoGP’s greatest icons will ever find common ground.
🏁 As the championship heads toward its final stretch, Márquez’s dominance continues, but the shadow of his rivalry with Rossi looms large. With the possibility of equaling — or surpassing — Rossi’s record this season, the emotional stakes are higher than ever. Whether fans view Márquez’s statement as justified or bitter, one thing is clear: the wounds of the past still shape the present, and MotoGP remains as much about personalities as it is about performance.
