MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi says Australian Casey Stoner hates him. And the seven-times world champion believes that newly crowned titleholder Jorge Lorenzo of Spain shares Stoner's feelings.
While fireworks between Rossi and Lorenzo have already been predicted ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix, that may now extend to theQueenslander following the Italian's comments in GQ magazine.
In the Italian edition, Rossi, who missed four races this year when he broke his right leg, compared Stoner and Lorenzo to "vultures circling stricken prey". And he said claims the pair used to idolise the Italian when they were making their way up through the ranks were false. However he qualified his spicy comments by saying it was "normal" for rivals in motorsport to feel this way. "When you're injured and are losing blood, those who are younger feel stronger and more able to devour you," Rossi told the magazine. "It's like a jungle, but I like it, it's fine like that. They say: Ah! Valentino! He's been my hero since I was a kid. But that's lies.
"I'm an obstacle, a rival, as [fellow Italian Max] Biaggi was for me. Let them say what they want, it only gives me pleasure. Whoever denies this is lying. I'm not saying we want to kill each other, but it is close."
Lorenzo and Stoner have warned Rossi that any rash or dangerous moves at Phillip Island this weekend will backfire on him. This follows a bubbling enmity between Yamaha teammates Lorenzo and Rossi after the Italian's overtaking moves in Japan two weeks ago.
They drew criticism from Lorenzo and a reprimand from the team for Rossi, who cares little as he moves to Ducati next year to replace Stoner after the Aussie's decision to switch to Honda partner Dani Pedrosa.
Meanwhile, Stoner has played down talk of internal bickering within Honda before he arrives. Livio Suppo, Stoner's major backer at Ducati, will move with the 2007 world champion to Honda and Pedrosa is concerned that if Suppo's role is too high-profile he will be biased towards the Australian.
* Lorenzo yesterday set the fastest time in a rain-delayed first practice session. The Yamaha rider posted a best lap time of 1m 41.146s, three tenths of a second ahead of Stoner. Nicky Hayden of the United States was third while Rossi was seventh.
