In the high-octane world of MotoGP, rivalries are as much a part of the sport as the roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber. Few feuds, however, have captured the imagination—or sparked as much controversy—as the bitter clash between Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez. The saga, which has simmered for nearly a decade, took a dramatic turn in 2015, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Recently, Rossi reignited the flames by mocking Márquez, imitating his riding style in a scathing jab after the FIM sanction stripped Márquez of a hard-fought title. With Rossi famously declaring, “No one has ever been as dirty as him,” the Italian legend didn’t just throw shade—he lit a bonfire under their already explosive rivalry.

The roots of this animosity stretch back to the infamous 2015 MotoGP season, a year that remains a lightning rod for fans and pundits alike. Rossi, a nine-time world champion and one of the sport’s most beloved figures, was in the hunt for an eighth premier-class title. Standing in his way was his Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo—and, as Rossi saw it, a scheming Marc Márquez. The tension boiled over at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, where Rossi and Márquez clashed on track in a moment that would define their relationship. Rossi, frustrated by what he perceived as Márquez’s deliberate interference, appeared to push the Spaniard wide, resulting in Márquez crashing out. The incident earned Rossi a penalty that forced him to start the season finale in Valencia from the back of the grid, effectively handing the title to Lorenzo by a razor-thin margin of five points.

For Rossi, the loss was more than just a missed championship—it was a betrayal. He accused Márquez of conspiring with Lorenzo to sabotage his title bid, a claim that radicalized a portion of his fanbase and turned Márquez into a pariah in Rossi strongholds. The Spaniard, then a two-time MotoGP champion and a prodigy in his own right, denied the allegations, insisting his aggressive riding was simply part of the game. But the damage was done. The once-cordial relationship between the two—marked by a young Márquez idolizing Rossi and even posing for photos with him as a child—disintegrated into a feud that has yet to fully heal.

Fast forward to 2025, and the embers of that rivalry still glow red-hot. Márquez, now a veteran with eight world titles, recently faced a crushing blow when the FIM stripped him of a championship due to a technical violation—a sanction that echoed the controversies of years past. Rossi, retired from MotoGP since 2021 but still a towering figure through his VR46 Academy and racing team, couldn’t resist the chance to twist the knife. In a podcast appearance on *Mig Babol*, hosted by former VR46 rider Andrea Migno, Rossi didn’t just criticize Márquez—he mocked him. Imitating Márquez’s aggressive, elbow-out riding style with exaggerated flair, Rossi quipped, “No one has ever been as dirty as him. He fought not to win, but to make me lose.” The imitation, dripping with sarcasm, was a masterstroke of provocation, reigniting debates about sportsmanship, legacy, and who truly crossed the line.

To Rossi’s supporters, the mockery was a justified jab at a rider they’ve long viewed as reckless and disrespectful. They point to incidents like the 2018 Argentine Grand Prix, where Márquez’s aggressive move sent Rossi crashing into the dirt, as evidence of his “dirty” tactics. Rossi himself has never wavered, insisting Márquez’s actions in 2015 were unprecedented. “Among the great stars of motorsport, no one has ever fought to make another rider lose,” he said on the podcast. “Normally, if you’re dirty, it’s to win for yourself—not to ruin someone else.”

Márquez, for his part, has rarely dignified Rossi’s barbs with a response. The Spaniard, now focused on rebuilding his career after years of injury setbacks, has let his on-track results do the talking. Yet the FIM sanction—a rare and humiliating punishment—has left him vulnerable, and Rossi’s imitation has only amplified the sting. Fans of Márquez argue that Rossi, too, was no saint on the track, citing his own history of hard racing against rivals like Max Biaggi and Casey Stoner. They see Rossi’s mockery as the bitterness of a champion who couldn’t accept defeat gracefully.

The Rossi-Márquez rivalry isn’t just a personal spat—it’s a cultural phenomenon that has split MotoGP’s global fanbase. Rossi’s legions, draped in yellow and waving “46” flags, view him as the sport’s untouchable icon, a charismatic trailblazer who elevated MotoGP’s popularity. Márquez’s supporters, meanwhile, hail him as a fearless talent who redefined what’s possible on two wheels. The clash of these titans has transcended the racetrack, becoming a morality play about competition, honor, and the fine line between aggression and malice.

As of March 21, 2025, Rossi’s latest salvo has ensured this feud remains alive and kicking. Whether you see it as a justified taunt or a petty dig, one thing is clear: the saga of Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez is far from over. In a sport built on speed and daring, their war of words—and now gestures—proves that the fiercest battles aren’t always fought on the track. For better or worse, Rossi’s mocking imitation has cemented their rivalry as MotoGP’s most enduring soap opera, leaving fans to wonder: who’s the real villain here?