Max Biaggi calls Valentino Rossi: “How I miss our rivalry”

Nineteen years ago, on April 18, 2004, Valentino Rossi won on debut on Yamahabecoming the first and only driver in the history of the premier class to win back-to-back Grands Prix with two different manufacturers (in the last round of the 2003 World Championship had climbed to the top step of the podium with Honda).

On the Phakisa Circuit, in South Africa, the legend Pesaro won against its historic rival Max Biaggiin one of the most iconic duels in motorcycling history. There MotoGP recalled the success of Reds with a post about Instagramre-shared just by Biaggi on his social profile. “The rivalry with Valentine it’s old, but how much I miss it”, reads the Roman driver’s post.

Biaggi to Rossi: “We hated each other, today only beautiful things”

The two – even if at a distance – began to tease each other since the younger classes. After the first triumphs, at the end of the 90s, they asked a Reds if you hear the “Biaggi of the 125″ (in those years max dominated in 250). “I the Biaggi of the 125? If anything he is the Reds of the 250…”, he answered Valentine. But the rivalry continued on the track, in the top category. During the Japanese GP of 2001 both became protagonists of maneuvers at the limits of the regulation. Biaggi obstacle Reds with an elbow, forcing him off-piste. It’s worth he replied on the following lap, overtaking the Roman rider and giving him the middle finger. On the occasion of GP of Barcelona the same year the two Italians also came to physical confrontation. In MotoGP, which replaced the 500 class in 2002, their duels were memorable. Among the most iconic just the one in South Africa in 2004, won by the “Doctor”, who collapsed exhausted after the finish line next to his “M1” and the one at the Mugello in 2005 – with Rossi still first – when the two rivals exchanged a historic handshake on the podium.

“Today only beautiful things remain, even if we literally hated each other. Having been a Valentinian or a Biaggist now it doesn’t matter, but it was important that every enthusiast identified with one of us and through us learned to love a unique and incredibly exciting sport What a beautiful story,” he wrote Biaggi on social media.