Max Biaggi decided to talk about a time that those under 20 cannot know. This is the time when he was at loggerheads with the then young Valentino Rossi who had targeted him to better boost his own media rise. On this point, the Doctor was undoubtedly a visionary and as, in those years, the drivers did not fall into each other's arms at the finish of a race as they do today, the atmosphere electrical could give rise to surges which could blow some fuses. This was the case in 2001 in Catalonia. But it is the Roman emperor who informs us of what happened next by shedding light on this gray area…
Here we are in Catalonia, in 2001, at the finish of a Grand Prix where Valentino Rossi et Max Biaggi, among others, climb a staircase to reach the podium. Then an argument takes place and we detect a semblance of a brawl between the two Italian champions. We then talked about physical violence, even a fight. Moreover, after the awards ceremony, Max Biaggi appeared with a small bloody cut under his eye for an interview with journalists.
Rumors then spread that Valentino Rossi had struck his Italian adversary and great rival Max Biaggi in the face. On this mark, the Corsaire, then Yamaha rider, commented: “ I was bitten by a mosquito ". He had obviously not convinced anyone and the facts remained a mystery. Until the now ambassador Aprilia, boss of the team in the colors of Husqvarna in Moto3 provides some details…
Valentino Rossi was a collateral incident assures Max Biaggi
In Assen, in an interview with speedweek, Max Biaggi described the true context of the events, which were reported by the media as a fight between two GP 500 stars who were at odds 21 years ago.
Max Biaggi explains that he was initially surprised after the Catalan Grand Prix in 2001 to see the entourage of Red composed of four people instead of the two authorized in the closed park. “ Normally, only the pilot and two mechanics were allowed there. ", said Max Biaggi. " But Rossi also had his manager Gibo Badioli and Honda's Carlo Fiorani with him at parc ferme. This was not allowed by the rules. None of the officials said anything against ».
Then there was the famous scene: “ as we then ascended the narrow spiral staircase to the awards platform, Badioli wore Rossi's helmet, the visor was open and the edge cut my face. That's why I angrily said to Badioli, "You shouldn't even be here!" Why do four of you have to go to the awards ceremony? Even in the closed park, you were already two people too many ". Then the young Doctor got involved, which fueled the confusion. But no blow was ultimately struck...
