Max Biaggi’s memory on Valentino Rossi anniversary: “We literally hated each other!”
On April 18, 2004, Rossi won the Africa MotoGP aᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚt Welkom after an enthra🧸lling battle from start to finish with Biaggi.
Rossi made history as the first-ever rider to win consecutive premier class races with different manufacturer🐻s.
He had left🌸 Honda and was making his Yamaha debut in South Africa and, starting from pole position, he fended off Biaggi.
They exchanged a brief and awkward h💟andshake a💛fterwards. Rossi would go on to win four MotoGP championships with Yamaha.
Nineteen years later, Biaggi reflect𒁃ed: “The rivalry with Valentino is old, but how I miss✃ it!
“Today I only have good memories even if we ไliterally hated each other.
“Having been Valentiniano or B🐼iaggista doesn't matter now, but it was important that every fan identified with one of us and, through us, learned to love a unique and incredibly exciting sport. Wha♏t a great story.”
Biaggi, now 51, has 🐈previously summarised his iconic feud with Rossi: “Now I think we were two idiots who waged war against each other through the press instead of clarifying in person how we shou🐲ld have done.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everythജing from American sports, to football, to F1.
