Holiday Ayo - Valentino Rossi has openly revealed his toughest rival in MotoGP. It turns out it's not Marc Marquez.

As is well known, Valentino Rossi has had a long career in MotoGP racing. He is also the only rider in history to have won the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, and MotoGP world championships.

Rossi has competed in a total of 26 seasons since his debut in 1996 and his retirement in 2021. In the premier class, Rossi has competed in 22 seasons in total.

Over the decades, Rossi has faced many rivals. So, of the many riders in MotoGP, who is the toughest rival according to the former Urbino-born rider?

"I've had many tough rivals throughout my career, and I think it's Stoner, Lorenzo, Biaggi, and Pedrosa. It's hard to say who's the biggest. Maybe Lorenzo, because we were on the same team and teammates for a long time. We weren't just rivals; it was like a love affair," Rossi said on the sidelines of the press conference for the launch of the VR46 Racing Team's special livery at Cinepolis Senayan Park on Wednesday (September 30th).

According to Rossi, his relationship with Lorenzo is as complicated as a love affair. The two were teammates for seven separate seasons, first from 2007 to 2010.

Rossi then left for Ducati. After two years with the Reds, the two reunited in 2013 when the nine-time world champion decided to return to Yamaha. Rossi and Lorenzo also fought fiercely for the title as teammates in 2016.

"We weren't just rivals; it was like a love affair," he added.

Interestingly, however, the MotoGP legend didn't mention Marquez. The two were known to have been fierce rivals during their careers in the premier class.

In fact, their rivalry still lingers even though Rossi is no longer racing in MotoGP.