Former MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone has reignited the debate over who is the greatest rider in MotoGP history—choosing Marc Marquez over Valentino Rossi.
Speaking to Motosprint, Iannone, who raced in the premier class from 2013 to 2019, reflected on his experiences battling with legends like Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, and Marquez during what is often considered a golden era for MotoGP.
While acknowledging Rossi’s greatness, Iannone ultimately gave the edge to Marquez in a direct comparison between the two, stating simply: “Between Marquez and Rossi? Marquez.”
Iannone also offered quick verdicts on other rivalries:
- Dani Pedrosa over Andrea Dovizioso
- Jorge Lorenzo over Casey Stoner
- Rossi over Lorenzo
Iannone, who started in MotoGP with Pramac Ducati in 2013—the same year Marquez debuted and won the championship—had a front-row view of Marquez’s rise. While he maintained good relationships in the paddock, he admitted to tension with Dovizioso after their high-profile Argentina clash in 2016.
Despite a career cut short by a four-year doping ban, Iannone made a brief return to the MotoGP paddock in 2024, substituting for an injured Fabio Di Giannantonio at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the site of his final race before the suspension. He finished 17th.
Now five years removed from full-time racing, Iannone’s comments carry the weight of a rider who competed directly with both Rossi and Marquez at their peak.
