The MotoGP world is in turmoil after Marc Márquez sparked a social media storm by calling Valentino Rossi a “WOMAN” in a post on X. The provocation came in response to news that Rossi had accepted a $201 million advertising offer from Tim Cook, the famous billionaire and CEO of Apple, known for his work in the LGBT community. Márquez’s comment reignited the historic rivalry between the two champions, sending fans into a tailspin and shaking up the paddock.
Márquez’s seemingly tongue-in-cheek post sent shockwaves online, with thousands of comments and mixed reactions. Rossi fans defended the “Doctor,” while others interpreted the comment as a joke related to their feud that began in 2015 in Sepang. Rossi, a nine-time world champion, responded with an enigmatic message on X: “I speak on the track, not on social media,” implying that he prefers to let things slide, but without quelling speculation.
Tim Cook’s offer to Rossi, according to sources close to the VR46 team, is linked to a global advertising campaign to promote values of inclusiveness, capitalizing on the Italian rider’s immense popularity. Although details are still sketchy, the $201 million deal represents one of the most lucrative sponsorships in the history of the sport. This has fueled the debate: is Rossi, now a WEC rider and owner of the VR46 MotoGP team, really changing his brand for such a controversial deal?
The back-and-forth between Márquez and Rossi has been hogging the attention, with hashtags like #RossiVsMarquez and #MotoGPDrama trending. With Márquez joining Ducati Lenovo for 2025 and Rossi still having an impact on motorsport, this clash could have repercussions on the track. Will Rossi be able to respond on the track, or will the rivalry finally move to social media? MotoGP has never been so heated!
