Valentino Rossi has laughed off claims by Toni Elias they continue to have a frosty relationship 14 years on because of his photo-finish victory during the 2006 Portuguese MotoGP, even if he admits he does have a different grievance with the Spaniard.
Last week former MotoGP rider Elias raised eyebrows by suggesting Rossi hasn’t forgiven him for beating the Italian to victory by a meagre 0.002s during the 2006 Estoril race. The five points it cost him on the leaderboard would have won him the title over Nicky Hayden at the following Valencia finale.
Speaking to DAZN, Elias said: "When I meet Valentino - I see him every year in Austin - I can see that he still has [Estoril 2006] stuck in his heart, he has not forgiven me… It's over, it's time to be friends, but it is not possible.”
However, Rossi dismissed the notion the pair don’t get on, insisting they have a good relationship when they meet up in the United States, where Elias competes in the MotoAmerica Superbike series.
That said, Rossi does stir the pot slightly by admitting he does indeed have a grievance with Elias, but rather than it being for Estoril, it’s for a collision at the beginning of the year in Jerez when the Honda rider clipped Rossi into turn one and took him down.
"When I met Toni Elias in the United States, because now he runs there, there were only positive moments,” he told a video chat with BT Sport. “We have a good relationship and I'm not angry with him because he beat me in Portugal, but because he knocked me out in first corner during the Spanish Grand Prix.
“In that season, Jerez was the first race of the year and immediately made me lose points and probably also the championship."
WATCH Valentino Rossi and Toni Elias collide at Jerez 2006
