Valentino Rossi Reflects on 2015: ‘Marc Marquez Hit Me on Purpose; I Had to Return the Move, and He Went Down
The 2015 MotoGP season remains one of the most controversial and dramatic in the sport’s history, and much of the tension centered on the rivalry between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez. Nearly a decade later, Rossi has once again reflected on the infamous events of that year, shedding light on one of MotoGP’s most controversial moments: the Sepang clash with Marquez.
In a recent interview, Rossi did not hold back as he recalled the fateful race in Malaysia, where tensions between him and Marquez reached their boiling point. “Marc Marquez hit me on purpose. He was trying to make me crash,” Rossi said, addressing the infamous lap where the two riders clashed while battling for positions.
The Heated 2015 Season
The 2015 season had already been filled with intense competition between Rossi and his then-teammate Jorge Lorenzo, with both vying for the championship. However, as the season progressed, Marquez, though not in the title fight, began to play a pivotal role in the championship’s outcome. Rossi had accused Marquez of deliberately interfering with his title hopes by engaging in unnecessary battles, particularly at the Australian GP, where he believed Marquez was more focused on hindering him than winning the race.
The tension culminated at the Malaysian GP, where a head-to-head showdown between Rossi and Marquez escalated into one of the most contentious moments in MotoGP history.
The Clash at Sepang
As the two riders fought aggressively for position during the race, their duel became increasingly physical. “I knew what he was doing,” Rossi explained. “Marc wasn’t just racing me; he was intentionally disrupting my pace, trying to provoke me and make me lose ground in the championship.”
Rossi recalled how Marquez made multiple attempts to unsettle him, going so far as to make deliberate contact. “He hit me on purpose, no doubt. It wasn’t just hard racing; it was a calculated move to try and make me crash.”
Unable to withstand the pressure, Rossi admitted he felt compelled to retaliate. “At that point, I had to return the move. I didn’t have a choice. He kept pushing, and when we went through that corner, I had to make sure I stayed upright, and he went to the ground.”
The incident saw Marquez crash out of the race, while Rossi was penalized, starting from the back of the grid in the final race of the season in Valencia, effectively ending his championship hopes. Lorenzo went on to win the title, but the aftermath of Sepang lingered over the sport for years.
The Fallout and Legacy
Rossi’s clash with Marquez ignited a firestorm in the MotoGP world. Fans were divided, with some supporting Rossi’s claims that Marquez had intentionally tried to sabotage his championship run, while others believed Rossi’s actions in Sepang were unsportsmanlike. The fallout from the incident also strained relationships between the two riders for years.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Rossi remained defiant about his actions. “I don’t regret it. He pushed me to the limit, and in that moment, I had to stand my ground. It wasn’t just about that race; it was about everything leading up to it.”
The 2015 Sepang incident has since become part of MotoGP lore, often referred to as the “Sepang Clash.” While the rivalry between Rossi and Marquez eventually cooled in the years that followed, the events of that season continue to be discussed as one of the most intense moments in the sport’s history.
For Rossi, 2015 will always be a turning point in his legendary career. The clash with Marquez, and the emotions surrounding it, remain vivid in his memory. “It was one of the hardest seasons of my life. But it’s racing. Sometimes, things happen, and you just have to keep fighting.”
Even though the 2015 title slipped through his fingers, Rossi’s passion, competitive spirit, and unwillingness to back down have further cemented his legacy as one of MotoGP’s greatest and most enduring icons.
