Marc Márquez has addressed the long-standing claim that he holds the flat track record at Valentino Rossi's private Motor Ranch in Tavullia, Italy.
What happened?
The legend goes that, when Marquez became MotoGP world champion in 2013, he was then subsequently invited to Rossi's ranch in 2014 for a training day with many other top-class riders.
Marquez showed up at the ranch with a full Honda team truck, complete with engineers and other staff, fully determined to break the track record - and did so, much to the ire of 'The Doctor' who believed this was an act of disrespect.
Marquez's account
Speaking at the World Ducati Week Race of Champions in Misano, Marquez gave his account: "That day I finished first in time, but I don't know if it was the record, you'd have to ask someone from the RV.
He also mentioned that he really liked the ranch and it was very fast.
The rivalry
The 'Ranch Incident' was supposedly the end of the Marquez-Rossi friendship, which had been relatively good up until that point.
After all, Marquez has admitted on a number of occasions that Rossi was his childhood hero, while Rossi also clearly took a liking to the young Spaniard's undeniable abilities.
What followed
What followed was a savage battle which still wages on to this day.
In addition to their numerous on-track incidents such as those in Argentina, Assen and of course, Sepang, there has been plenty of animosity off-track too.
Last year at the Misano MotoGP race, Rossi fans were delighted when he crashed out of the sprint race lead, prompting Marquez to respond with a Messi-style celebration in 'enemy territory' in what was one of his most iconic wins in 2025.
Even this week, when Marquez is attending the circuit as a representative of Italy's most successful team, it is reported that he still receives abuse from Rossi fans who have not forgiven him for what they deem an interference with the 2015 title battle.
The rivalry between Marquez and Rossi continues to be a major talking point in the MotoGP world.
Marquez's actions at the ranch may have sparked the rivalry, but it has been fueled by numerous incidents on and off the track.
As the two riders continue to compete at the highest level, the tension between them is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon.
Marquez's focus will be on the upcoming races, where he will look to continue his dominance in the MotoGP championship.
With his skills and determination, he will be a force to be reckoned with, and his rivalry with Rossi will continue to be a major storyline in the sport.