IT seems that the saying 'a leopard cannot change it's spots' befits Max Biaggi after qualifying antics saw the the 2010 Champion fined for €3000 and a warning from Race Direction.
The Alitalia Aprilia rider was not the sole culprit after rekindling his animosity with Marco Melandri in the Superpole scuffle. The clash between the two Italians, which can be viewed in the highlights, began when Biaggi blatantly blocked the Yamaha rider at McLeans, resulting in Melandri's exclusion from the final Superpole session and ninth position on the grid. Melandri - who also saw a warning from Race Direction - decided to give Max a handful of payback by placing a block pass on Roman Emperor.
The poor-sporting behaviour Biaggi continued in the final stint with the baulking of fellow Aprilia rider Noriyuki Haga at the Melbourne Loop. Following Saturday's qualifying session Max Biaggi marched into the Yamaha garage of Melandri pointing an accusing finger at the 2001 250 champion, he said: “Melandri isn’t sporting, and what he did wasn’t very classy. I didn’t see him behind me on track, and for him to say that I did is shocking," Melandri placed the blame on being knocked out of SP2 in an interview, "His sarcastic applause when we returned to the pits was ugly and uncalled for.”
In a previous MotoGP episode Biaggi and Melandri had a severe disagreement at the 2005 Assen round. The event stemmed from Biaggi striking Franco Battaini whilst returning to the track from running off. Melandri, who witnessed the incident took it upon himself to teach the then Repsol Honda rider a lesson by giving his compatriot a nudge in the esses. The drama escalated in the pits with a brawl breaking out between the riders, the teams and Uncle Biaggi joining the fracas. The latter receiving a ban from attending any future rounds.
