Valentino Rossi has reignited the controversy of the 2015 MotoGP season, accusing Marc Márquez of deliberately interfering in his title fight against Jorge Lorenzo. As Rossi prepares to release his latest autobiography, “La Mia Storia,” the nine-time world champion revisits one of the most explosive chapters of his career, claiming Márquez’s actions cost him his tenth world championship.

The 2015 title fight

The drama at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix remains a pivotal moment for Rossi. At the time, Rossi and Lorenzo were locked in a fierce battle for the MotoGP crown, while Márquez, not in championship contention, engaged aggressively with Rossi throughout the season, sparking multiple contentious incidents in Argentina and Assen. Rossi alleges there was a conspiracy to hand the title to a Spanish rider.

The infamous clash in Sepang saw Rossi deliver a kick to Márquez during the race, resulting in a penalty that forced Rossi to start last at the decisive Valencia Grand Prix. That finale witnessed unprecedented tension between Rossi, Lorenzo, and Márquez, culminating in Lorenzo clinching the title amid accusations from Rossi of a “biscotto” — a collusion between Márquez and Lorenzo to keep the championship out of Rossi’s hands.

Appearing on Italy’s RAI program “Che tempo che fa,” Rossi expressed the lingering pain of that season. “The story of 2015 still angers me because Márquez wasn’t fighting for the championship. It was only Lorenzo and me. Márquez’s sole aim was to make me lose. And in the end, he succeeded,” Rossi stated.

He admitted the wound remains fresh more than a decade later, saying, “My mental state when I think about it is the same as that night in Valencia. And that worries me a little! Often I tell myself to focus on the titles I won, not the one I lost. But in sport, what you lose hurts more.”

Rossi on Bezzecchi, Bagnaia and Antonelli

Beyond reflecting on his past, Rossi also discussed the current state of his VR46 Riders Academy. He highlighted Marco Bezzecchi’s strong start to the season, noting a 102-point lead over Márquez at one stage. However, Bezzecchi is now struggling to maintain his position, trailing Jorge Martín and risking losing the championship with just two rounds remaining.

“Bezzecchi is doing well—he won the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday—but he’s a bit disappointed because he had the chance to win the title this year. He had the speed but made too many mistakes. He probably won’t win it,” Rossi commented.

Rossi also addressed Pecco Bagnaia’s difficult tenure at Ducati. After a tough two years, Bagnaia suffered a foot injury in the Qatar sprint race following a crash caused by Fermín Aldeguer. “Breaking your foot with two fractures is serious. But considering how he fell—quite a big crash—it could have been much worse,” Rossi said.

The conversation concluded with praise for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a VR46 Academy rider recently crowned Formula 1 World Champion. “Kimi? Spectacular. It’s thrilling to have an Italian champion in F1 after 70 years. We have many Italian riders in motorcycle racing but not in F1. Kimi came here for us, the fans. I’ve known him for years; he’s fantastic and very funny. He’s a champion,” Rossi affirmed.

Valentino Rossi’s new autobiography promises to revisit the highs and lows of a legendary career, with the 2015 season controversy still casting a long shadow over the ‘Dottore’s’ legacy.