Sylvain Guintoli urges Valentino Rossi to ‘move on’ after reigniting feud with Marc Marquez
Transform your passion into a work of art. Inspired by racing. Crafted for your wall – STUDIOSBRICKS
MotoGP pundit Sylvain Guintoli has bluntly told Valentino Rossi to put the past behind him following the Italian legend’s latest salvo against Marc Marquez. The long-standing acrimony between Rossi and Marquez resurfaced amid the release of Rossi’s new autobiography, where the seven-time world champion revisits the bitter 2015 title battle that divided the paddock.
In multiple media appearances promoting the 464-page tome, Rossi did not hold back in criticising Marquez, accusing the Spaniard of having “such an oversized ego that he wanted to decide the fate of a championship that no longer concerned him.” The Italian went further, warning that Marquez would “regret picking a fight” with him for the rest of his career. Yet, this sharp rhetoric has not found universal support within the MotoGP community.
Guintoli, who initially sided with Rossi during
Guintoli, who initially sided with Rossi during the early stages of the feud, now believes it is time for the former Yamaha star to seek closure. Speaking on the Gas It Out podcast, the Frenchman remarked: “There’s a point where you just have to move on, don’t you? I mean, to be fair to him, he was on national TV promoting his new book, so you need to be a bit controversial in that. But I mean, how many books does he need to sell? I think he’s gonna be all right.”
Reflecting on the infamous 2015 Phillip Island race, Guintoli disclosed how his perspective shifted after rewatching the footage years later. “I was convinced that it was Marc Marquez’s fault. Then four, five years ago we were talking about it in between races, and I remember Neil going, ‘Mate, you need to rewatch it Phillip Island. You need to rewatch the whole thing, and I’m going to leave it at that.’” He added firmly, “Marc Marquez does not impede Valentino Rossi. He does not. If somebody’s impeding Rossi, it’s Iannone doing dive bombs everywhere.”
The tension escalated days later during the Malaysian Grand Prix press conference, where Rossi publicly accused Marquez of dubious tactics, fracturing their relationship irreparably. Guintoli described Marquez’s bewilderment and retaliation in Sepang: “When Rossi has a go at him, Marc is going, ‘What? What? What do you mean?’ So then, when they’re racing in Sepang, he’s going the extra mile to attack him because he’s p—– him off.”
MotoGP legend Casey Stoner echoes Guintoli’s stance, suggesting
MotoGP legend Casey Stoner echoes Guintoli’s stance, suggesting Rossi erred by provoking “the worst rider on the grid” before the season’s crucial final rounds. Despite the bitter fallout, Rossi failed to add another championship to his tally, while Marquez has since secured five additional titles, with a sixth anticipated soon.
Guintoli’s call for Rossi to “move on” underscores a growing sentiment within the paddock that the saga, now nearly a decade old, should be laid to rest, allowing both riders’ legacies to stand on their own merit.
DON’T MISS ONE SECOND WITH THE NEW APP WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE LIVE TIMING OF MOTOGP, FORMULA 1, NASCAR, INDYCAR AND MUCH MORE: JUST PRESS – HERE (FREE FOR ALL USERS)
