Valentino Rossi has added a personal anecdote to the long-running dispute with Marc Marquez. He said there was a risk that his daughter Giulietta would be born on 17 February, the Spanish rider’s birthday. Rossi joked that he told his partner to wait for 24 hours so the birth would not fall on the same date. Giulietta was eventually born on 4 March.

The remark came during a new interview connected with the promotion of Rossi’s autobiography. The rivalry between the two riders erupted after the controversial conclusion of the 2015 MotoGP season. Rossi accused Marquez, then riding for Honda, of trying to sabotage his title prospects. The pair have not reconciled, and Rossi recently said that losing the 2015 championship still bothers him while calling Marquez’s actions absurd.

Why the old dispute remains relevant

The timing gives the latest comments an additional edge. Marquez is closing in on an eighth MotoGP title; if he achieves it, he will move ahead of Rossi on the all-time champions’ list. Rossi’s recent remarks have drawn criticism on social media, even as he remains one of MotoGP’s most popular figures.

Rossi left MotoGP five years ago and has since continued racing cars full-time. His last race victory came in 2017, while his most recent world championship was won in 2009. His autobiography is now available in Italy, with an English-language edition expected in February of the following year.