Feuding Rossi and Biaggi prepare for next act

Two Italians cannot escape centre stage

Not since Romeo started making his move on Juliet has such a close-knit Italian community been so passionately divided. For there is no love lost between the two biggest names in motorcycling, Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi.

Just as with the Capulets and Montagues, the feud is fuelled by a clash of cultures as much as by bitter personal distaste and their captivating confrontation resumes today when qualifying for the British Grand Prix starts here. This is a dangerous version of Graeme Le Saux antagonising Robbie Fowler, Mike Brearley patronising Dennis Lillee or, just perhaps, Tim Henman goading Andre Agassi.

Rossi, from Urbino in a coastal region of northern Italy, is a happy-go-lucky, effervescent and direct character. Biaggi, a Roman, is more considered, urbane and sensitive. So, when Rossi chose to escalate a restaurant argument from Japan four years ago though a series of provocative gestures, Biaggi eagerly swallowed the bait.

Even though riding in a different series at the time, Rossi carried a blow-up doll labelled Claudia Schiffer as a pillion passenger on one victory lap, mimicking reports that Biaggi had been dating Naomi Campbell. Then, when Rossi had graduated to 250cc, his visor carried the message "Grazie Mick" after Michael Doohan had beaten Biaggi following his own step up to 500cc.

Hostilities continued this year in the opening race when elbow leather and finger gestures were traded at various points in the opening race at Suzuka, before tensions came to a head last month in Barcelona. The blood on Biaggi's chin during the post-race press conference was attributed to a "mosquito bite", while Rossi struggled to invent an insect big enough to have inflicted the swelling under his eye after blows had been exchanged in the corridor.

The pair were warned about their conduct by the sport's ruling body, the FIM, and behaved impeccably last week at Assen, when Biaggi was victorious. Then, having been thrown together for last night's official press conference at Donington, to paraphrase Shakespeare, the two households proved that they are both alike in dignity.

"For me it is over and I don't like to spend words and time thinking about something that is in the past," Biaggi said. "I just hope that this thing will teach someone to open their eyes and think about what it is better to do, and what it is better not to do."

He was not only referring to Rossi's actions but also the inaction of the race officials, who allowed the celebrations of Rossi's entourage to spill over into restricted areas. "What happened should not have happened but everybody else has got the benefit," he added, in reference to the intense media interest.

However, another concern for Biaggi, who trails Rossi by 21 points in the championship, is that he is the only Yamaha rider among the leading pack. He has never been on the podium of a 500cc race at Donington, whereas Rossi won there at his first attempt last year.

"Rossi, Alex Barros and Loris Capirossi are all on Hondas," Biaggi said. "Maybe it is easier for Honda riders because I am too much by myself on a Yamaha."

The British rider Chris Walker is a big doubt for the race because of the concussion he suffered in a 150mph crash during practice for last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix at Assen. The Nottingham racer has been suffering from dizzy spells and will wait until this morning before deciding whether to race.