Estoril MotoGP: Rossi and Stoner clash again

The on-going intense rivalry between Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner continued on and off the track today in Portugal.

Back on track for the first time since Rossi caused a controversial collision with Stoner at the previous round in Jerez, a renewal of their fierce rivalry showed no sign of easing tonight ahead of the third round of the 2011 world championship in Estoril.
Aussie Stoner was riled in practice that factory Ducati rider Rossi was following him to try and improve his lap time.

At one stage, the 2007 world champion was seen gesturing Rossi towards him and the Repsol Honda rider explained: “It was like calling Valentino who was always following me. To find the best lap he was always behind me.”

“It’s like a dog always following you everywhere so it was like c’mon (whistles), good boy. If he is struggling to do a lap time this is it. We had our problems during the session and we were focussing on this but I also saw he held up Toni Elias a lot to find his lap time so I don’t think it is so correct.”

Rossi spent the majority of a lengthy media debrief with the Italian media talking about Stoner and he repeated his typically forthright opinions when he faced questions from the international press pack.

The 32-year-old said: “About today, I don’t think Casey likes me a lot. This is quite clear. First it was because I slowed down to catch my breath because I was quite tired and I wanted to make a last lap pushing.”

“Stoner passed and I restarted to push. He was in front of me but I wasn’t close but this happens in every practice and every race, so if he doesn’t want anybody to follow him then he has to race alone.”

Rossi said he had seen Stoner’s gesture and he added: “I saw it yes but I expected this. When we are together he always exaggerates everything too much. If I have to make like this in all my career for people that follow me then I break my seat.”

For the full story and more on the simmering tension between Rossi and Stoner, see the May 4 issue of MCN.