Marisa
01-19-2005, 04:23 PM
They may be fierce rivals on and off the track - and have even come to blows on one occasion - but Max Biaggi has revealed that he wanted to vote MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi as his Athlete of the Year.
"A few days ago, a journalist from the Italian newspaper La Stampa called me and asked me about 'The Athlete of the Year'. As every December they want to elect the sportsman of the year," Biaggi wrote on his official website. "I am part of the jury as the other Athletes of the Year elected me in the past.
"Well, I said to myself, what is the most beautiful sport on earth? No doubt, MotoGP. Who rode the best season? No doubt, Valentino Rossi. So, let's vote for him! And don't say that I'm not honest!
"But, no. The Italian journalist explained to me that I could not vote for him. Incredible: ‘You know Max, Rossi - like you - was already elected as Athlete of the Year and for this reason he cannot be elected again. You must say a new name...'"
As a result Biaggi, who recently visited the opening round of the AMA Supercross championship at Anaheim, California – during which he caught up with expected team-mate Nicky Hayden – selected Stefano Baldini, who claimed a marathon gold medal at Athens.
Max - still yet to be officially announced at Repsol Honda - is currently facing a race against time to be fit to participate at the first test of 2005, at Sepang on January 23, as he continues to recover from a broken ankle sustained in a Supermoto accident.
http://www.crash.net/uk/en/picture_view.asp?cid=6&pid=155701
HA!
"A few days ago, a journalist from the Italian newspaper La Stampa called me and asked me about 'The Athlete of the Year'. As every December they want to elect the sportsman of the year," Biaggi wrote on his official website. "I am part of the jury as the other Athletes of the Year elected me in the past.
"Well, I said to myself, what is the most beautiful sport on earth? No doubt, MotoGP. Who rode the best season? No doubt, Valentino Rossi. So, let's vote for him! And don't say that I'm not honest!
"But, no. The Italian journalist explained to me that I could not vote for him. Incredible: ‘You know Max, Rossi - like you - was already elected as Athlete of the Year and for this reason he cannot be elected again. You must say a new name...'"
As a result Biaggi, who recently visited the opening round of the AMA Supercross championship at Anaheim, California – during which he caught up with expected team-mate Nicky Hayden – selected Stefano Baldini, who claimed a marathon gold medal at Athens.
Max - still yet to be officially announced at Repsol Honda - is currently facing a race against time to be fit to participate at the first test of 2005, at Sepang on January 23, as he continues to recover from a broken ankle sustained in a Supermoto accident.
http://www.crash.net/uk/en/picture_view.asp?cid=6&pid=155701
HA!