That old wound from 2015 is still bleeding, or at least that is what Valentino Rossi wants us to know. According to Autosport, the nine-time world champion has released a new autobiography titled La Mia Storia on 10 November, looking back on the defining moments of his legendary career. Naturally, the book dives headfirst into his bitter feud with Marc Marquez, whose Repsol Honda Team machine became an obstacle in Rossi's Yamaha Factory Racing title charge against Jorge Lorenzo.
As Autosport reports, the infamous Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang remains a raw chapter even after all this time. Rossi arrived at the circuit already accusing Marquez of conspiring to hand the MotoGP championship to a fellow Spaniard, following contentious moments earlier that year in Argentina and Assen. What followed on Sunday was an uncompromising battle that culminated in Rossi appearing to kick the Honda rider off his bike. Rossi was penalized with a back-of-the-grid start for the Valencia finale, where Lorenzo secured the crown while Rossi pointed to an alleged 'biscotto' agreement.
When you break a foot and have two fractures, as is the case with him, you're obviously not in a good way. But considering how the crash happened, it could have been much worse,
Promoting the book on RAI's Che tempo che fa programme, Rossi insisted his stance hasn't shifted one bit. “We all have our limits. Some are lower, some are higher. But the 2015 story makes me even angrier because Marquez wasn't actually fighting for the championship. Lorenzo and I were fighting for it; he was only fighting to make me lose. And in the end, he succeeded,” Rossi said. He admitted that the memory still hurts just as much as it did on that night in Valencia, even if he tries to focus on the championships he actually won instead of the one that slipped away.
Away from the ghosts of the past, Rossi also assessed the current crop of talent from his VR46 Riders Academy. Marco Bezzecchi, racing for Aprilia Racing, recently won the Qatar Grand Prix but finds himself third in the standings behind Jorge Martin with two rounds remaining after a series of mistakes derailed his title hopes. “Bezzecchi is doing well because he won, but he is a little disappointed because he had the opportunity to win the world championship this year. He had the speed, but he made too many mistakes. Most likely, he won't win it,” Rossi noted.
Francesco Bagnaia is similarly enduring a rough patch, counting down his days before leaving Ducati after two difficult seasons. His weekend in Qatar was ruined when contact with Fermin Aldeguer caused a heavy fall in the Saturday sprint, leaving him with a broken foot and two fractures. “When you break a foot and have two fractures, as is the case with him, you're obviously not in a good way. But considering how the crash happened, it could have been much worse,” Rossi said.
Finally, the Italian icon spared some praise for a friend of his academy, Kimi Antonelli, who secured a Formula 1 world title. “Kimi? Spectacular. Having an Italian driver who, after 70 years, makes us so fortunate with a world title is exciting,” Rossi said. “There are many Italian riders in the Motorcycle world championship, but not in F1. I've always tried to understand why. Kimi came here because of us, the fans. I've known him for a few years; he's a fantastic person, very funny. He's a champion.”
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