Bagnaia Voices Concern Over Timing and Tone of "Sepang Clash" Documentary

Francesco Bagnaia has raised concerns regarding MotoGP’s decision to release a documentary commemorating the tenth anniversary of the controversial incident between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez at the Sepang circuit in 2015. The documentary’s release has sparked debate within the MotoGP community, with Bagnaia questioning the timing and the overall sensitivity of revisiting the divisive episode.

The Sepang International Circuit is etched in MotoGP history as the venue where the rivalry between Rossi and Marquez reached its boiling point. Heading into the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix, Rossi held an 11-point lead over his Movistar Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, with just two races remaining in the season. During the pre-race press conference, Rossi made accusations against Marquez, suggesting that the Repsol Honda rider was deliberately trying to assist Lorenzo in his championship bid. These remarks sent shockwaves through the paddock and added fuel to the already intense rivalry.

The race itself proved to be a flashpoint. On lap seven, a series of close encounters between Rossi and Marquez culminated in a collision. Marquez crashed out of the race after appearing to be forced wide by Rossi, who was accused of intentionally extending his leg to make contact with Marquez’s Honda.

The race stewards investigated the incident and handed Rossi three penalty points on his license. Due to previous transgressions, this penalty meant that Rossi would be forced to start the final race of the season in Valencia from the back of the grid.

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In Valencia, Lorenzo secured victory, while Rossi, despite a valiant effort, finished fourth. This result handed Lorenzo the MotoGP World Championship title, igniting a fierce divide among fans, splitting them into opposing camps supporting either Rossi or Marquez. The incident, dubbed the "Sepang Clash," remains one of the most talked-about and controversial moments in MotoGP history.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the incident, MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports released a 26-minute documentary featuring interviews with several key figures, including Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, and Dani Pedrosa, who won the race. However, neither Rossi nor Marquez participated in the documentary. A brief appearance by a young Bagnaia in the background of Rossi’s garage was included, a detail that the current Ducati rider found somewhat perplexing.

Bagnaia’s criticism of the documentary follows his earlier comments regarding the running of the Moto3 race at the same event after a serious accident involving Jose Antonio Rueda and Noah Dettwiler. Bagnaia questioned the decision to proceed with the race, suggesting that a suspension might have been more appropriate given the circumstances.

Bagnaia drew a parallel between the sensitivity required in deciding whether to continue the Moto3 race and the decision to release the "Sepang Clash" documentary. He suggested that those making such decisions sometimes lack the sensitivity possessed by the riders themselves.

"In many aspects, riders have a sensitivity that those making certain decisions simply don’t have," Bagnaia stated. "The idea of releasing a documentary about the Sepang Clash was not a brilliant one."

Bagnaia also expressed discomfort with the timing of the documentary’s release, coinciding with the anniversary of Marco Simoncelli’s death in an accident at Sepang on October 23, 2011. Simoncelli, a rising star in MotoGP, tragically lost his life after a multi-rider collision during the Malaysian Grand Prix.

"I think some roles were shown in a rather distorted way. I don’t want to get into that topic, but releasing it on the anniversary of [Marco] Simoncelli’s death was also a bit particular," Bagnaia added, visibly upset about the use of footage after he declined to participate in the documentary.

"I remember being asked about it earlier this year, and I already said it wasn’t appropriate to talk about. They even included Dovizioso, who said he doesn’t remember anything. And I didn’t understand why they showed me either," Bagnaia concluded.

The Ducati Lenovo Team rider’s remarks underscore the enduring impact of the "Sepang Clash" and the sensitivities surrounding the event, both for the riders involved and the wider MotoGP community.

Background on Key Figures

Francesco Bagnaia: The current MotoGP World Champion, riding for the Ducati Lenovo Team. Bagnaia secured his second consecutive title in 2023, demonstrating his position as a leading figure in the sport. In 2023, Bagnaia secured 7 race wins and 15 podium finishes. He has 17 race wins and 35 podiums in his MotoGP career.
Valentino Rossi: A nine-time Grand Prix World Champion, Rossi retired from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season. Rossi is regarded as one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time. His rivalry with Marquez was a defining aspect of his later career. Rossi finished his career with 89 race wins and 199 podium finishes in the premier class.
Marc Marquez: An eight-time Grand Prix World Champion, Marquez currently rides for the Gresini Racing MotoGP team. After a long stint with Repsol Honda, Marquez moved to the satellite team for the 2024 season. Marquez has faced challenges in recent years due to injuries, but remains a significant presence in MotoGP. He has 59 race wins and 101 podiums in his MotoGP career.
Jorge Lorenzo: A five-time World Champion, Lorenzo retired from MotoGP in 2019. Lorenzo rode for Yamaha, Ducati, and Honda during his career, winning titles with Yamaha in 2010, 2012, and 2015.
Andrea Dovizioso: A three-time MotoGP runner-up, Dovizioso retired from MotoGP in 2022. Dovizioso rode for Ducati for many years, becoming a consistent challenger to Marquez.
Dani Pedrosa: A former MotoGP rider, Pedrosa now serves as a test rider for KTM. Pedrosa rode for Repsol Honda for his entire MotoGP career, achieving 31 race wins.
Marco Simoncelli: A promising Italian rider who tragically died at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix. Simoncelli’s death had a profound impact on the MotoGP community.

The release of the "Sepang Clash" documentary has reopened old wounds and reignited discussions about the incident, raising questions about the appropriateness of revisiting such a controversial event, particularly given the sensitivities surrounding Simoncelli’s death at the same circuit.

Dorna Sports has yet to respond to Bagnaia’s comments.