If I had been a boy, my name would have been Max - after Max Biaggi, the multiple 250cc world champion and current Aprilia rider in the World Superbike Championship. I am glad I was not born a boy: I am one of the “Valenteeny boppers”.

The unwritten rule among motorsport fans is you either support Max Biaggi or Valentino Rossi - you cannot support both. 

It’s not that I dislike Biaggi. The red that Biaggi fans wear doesn’t suit me (neither does Rossi’s yellow, mind you.)  

“He is boring, has no character, is always blaming something or someone else for his bad performances and, of course, he is Rossi’s nemesis,” I keep telling myself to convince myself that I am anti-Biaggi. 

Truth be told, I have always had a soft spot for him. 

Recently the World Superbike circus came to Kyalami and lucky me got to go. As I walked pass the Aprilia box, I caught a glimpse of Biaggi, standing in the usual Roman arrogant stance, ignoring the calls from the people wanting an autograph. I took a chance: I stepped in and asked if I could interview him. He jokingly started humping his mechanic’s arm and said he was busy. I was taken aback; I always though Biaggi was stiff and had no humour. “You will have to ask the PR guy, let me go get him quickly for you. Would you like to interview Shinya too?”  

I was baffled! I was expecting a diva response like the one I got from another rider (no names mentioned).  

I wasn’t listening to his answers while I was interviewing him: I was too busy trying to decide if I should ask him about Valentino Rossi or not. It is well known that Biaggi does not like talking about Rossi. I’ve heard that Biaggi once walked out of an interview when a journalist mentioned Rossi. 

[Did I have the bravery to ask him this … or was it stupid? What would happen - would he walk away? That would be cool, I’d have him walking away on camera…. Yes… No… Yes… No… Yes, yes I’d ask him.] 

“You’re in Superbikes and Rossi [his disposition suddenly changed] is in MotoGP. [He swallowed.] Has that caused the rivalry to ease up?”  I tensed up, expecting the worst, but he answered the question - very well too.

By this point, I was either brave or incredibly stupid: “Would you mind if I took a picture with you?”

He agreed. 

Biaggi is not what people make him out to be. He is a decent guy. Dare I say it: I am a Biaggi and Rossi fan!