Rossi again criticises Marquez over 2015 MotoGP title

Valentino Rossi has described Marc Marquez's actions in the 2015 MotoGP championship battle as "absurd", saying it still makes him angry and that it worries him how strongly he feels about it. Rossi maintains that Marquez deliberately sought to sabotage his hopes of an eighth world title, a claim he first made after the Australian Grand Prix that year, where the two riders collided. Rossi was penalised and started the Valencia finale from the back of the grid, losing the title to Jorge Lorenzo.

Speaking on the Italian TV programme Che Tempo Che Fa to promote his autobiography My Story, Rossi said Marquez was only trying to make him lose and had succeeded. He added that the feeling remains as strong as it was on the night in Valencia more than a decade ago.

Marquez could become an eight-time champion at next week's Portuguese Grand Prix, having come from 102 points behind in the standings after early-season injury problems.