Valentino Rossi has revisited his bitter 2015 MotoGP title fight with Marc Marquez, saying the episode remains just as painful and anger-inducing more than 10 years later. Speaking on the television programme Che Tempo Che Fa while promoting his autobiography My Story, Rossi repeated his belief that Marquez was not genuinely fighting for the championship, but was instead trying to prevent Rossi from winning it.

The dispute centred on that year’s Australian Grand Prix, where Rossi and Marquez fought aggressively before a controversial collision. Rossi was penalised after reaching the required number of penalty points and had to start the Valencia finale from the back of the grid. Jorge Lorenzo went on to win the 2015 MotoGP title. Rossi later set out his interpretation of Marquez’s riding at a press conference in Malaysia, held one week after the Australian race.

Rossi said the situation was “even more absurd” because, in his view, the championship battle was between Lorenzo and himself. He argued that Marquez’s objective was simply to make him lose, adding that Marquez ultimately achieved that aim. Rossi also said the episode “still stings” and that his emotional state when he thinks about the night in Valencia has not changed. He admitted that this persistence worries him, although he tries to focus on other defeats rather than only that one loss.

My Story is set to cover Rossi’s rivalries throughout his MotoGP career. The autobiography is scheduled to launch in Italy during the week of the interview and in the United Kingdom early the following year. The renewed discussion of 2015 comes as Marc Marquez could secure an eighth world championship at the Portuguese Grand Prix. Marquez’s title challenge follows early-season injury problems and a deficit of 102 points in the standings. Rossi’s return to the subject has also prompted reactions on social media, keeping one of MotoGP’s most divisive championship battles in the spotlight.