Superbike World Champion Max Biaggi has received a 3000 Euro fine after tapping fellow Italian Marco Melandri twice in the face following a controversial qualifying incident at Donington Park.
Biaggi apparently held Melandri up during his qualifying lap during Superpole 2 before Melandri brake-checked Biaggi a lap later while the Roman was vying for pole on his fast lap.
The move caused Biaggi to storm up to the Yamaha garage following the incident, angrily confront WSBK rookie Melandri before making contact with his face as his frustrations got the better of him.
“I’m disappointed to be starting on third row of the grid tomorrow, but that’s what happens in Superpole,” Melandri commented. “I’m just sorry that it was another rider’s fault.
“Biaggi showed his true professionalism today, he cut in front of me even though he clearly had seen me and that’s not how a world champion should be riding.
“I’m going out there tomorrow even more determined than ever and I believe our race pace is good.”
Biaggi neglected to mention the confrontation in his post-qualifying press conference distributed to the press.
“Today we had some difficulties,” Biaggi admitted. “Due both to the low temperature and some choices on the bike set-up that weren’t dead on. In fact, in view of the races tomorrow I’ll talk things over with my team.
“I think we’ll backtrack, at least partly, to recover a bit of feeling. Unfortunately we only have the warm-up session to verify the feelings we’ve perceived today, so we’ll have to really give it our all to be at our best racing conditions.”
Check out film of the clash below: