How To Win Friends And Influence People. This is the gospel according to Valentino Rossi, sporting genius, people's champion and much-loved lunatic. Move to London, give a pillion ride to a man-size chicken, punch your main rival behind the podium. Although he has suffered two barren years, the self-styled Doctor has never lost his popularity and, having returned to the summit, could be excused for relishing the scorn poured on Casey Stoner at the British Grand Prix last Sunday.

The barracking of Stoner by the Donington Park crowd reflected poorly on the British biking public. The world champion did not turn up to a charity function before the race, but, given that he was booed at the same event the previous year, his no-show was no surprise. “Are they here to watch bike racing or be rude to everybody?” the Australian said. In the run-up to tomorrow's Dutch TT, Rossi, who is 12 points clear in the MotoGP standings, gave his thoughts on the matter.

“It was very strange, but I think the relationship between the English and Australians is not great, like the Italians and the French,” he said. “The people were unhappy because Casey always says, ‘This track is s***, this place is s***, this weather is s***.' They weren't happy for that reason.”

Stoner may lack the appeal of Rossi, but the man himself respects his rival, along with Dani Pedrosa, like Stoner 22 and his closest challenger in the title chase. “The relationship between me, Casey and Dani is more normal, whereas Max Biaggi was always saying bulls***,” Rossi said. “That made it difficult, but I beat those old guys and now I'm trying to beat these young ones.”

In a remarkably candid admission, Rossi said that he did not give 100 per cent in 2006, when his run of five successive titles came to an end. He also said that his tax problems - he agreed a £26million settlement in February - and the sacking of his manager, Givo Baldi, had been difficult. Graziano, his father and a former grand-prix racer, now plays a bigger role in his career. “People in Italy were saying a lot of bad things about me last year,” Rossi said. “That was hard. I have modified my organisation and my style. Graziano is my right-hand man, but I am my manager.

“When you win five titles you think a sixth will happen. I did not give my all in 2006. Then, last year, I took lots of risks because we were not competitive. When you're not fast enough, you try to push more and that's dangerous. I was scared, but it's clever to be scared because this job can hurt.”

Rossi, 29, believes Pedrosa, the Repsol Honda rider, and Stoner, on the super-fast Ducati, will fight him until the end of the season. So after his tax problems, the Italian has moved home to Tavullia and changed his lifestyle. “People there try to save me,” he said. “They treat me as normal. It gets bad if I go 15 kilometres from home, but I am happy. I am training harder and I get to bed earlier, maybe 2am now.”

Rossi has always played with his rivals' heads. Biaggi, his former nemesis, never got to grips with Rossi's whims, which famously involved riding a bike with a blow-up doll on the back. The words “Claudia Schiffer” were scrawled on it, a reference to the fact that Biaggi had been dating Naomi Campbell. Rossi rattled the Roman and, in 2001, punched him, too.

The new Rossi said that he had grown out of such stunts. He is close to signing a two-year contract extension with Fiat Yamaha and says that he can continue until he is 35. The most influential figure in MotoGP is refreshed and, to judge from the throng that follows his every move, back to winning ways - in terms of races and friends.

Rossi factfile
Born Urbino, Italy, Feb 16, 1979.
Races 200 in all grand prix classes (91 wins).
World titles 125cc (1997), 250cc (1999), MotoGP (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005).
Hobbies Rossi is a keen football fan and player, who supports Inter Milan.
Likes Mike Hailwood, the British bike legend, and Johnny Cash, the American country singer - “I watched Walk The Line twice in a row and cried.”
Future Was offered a one-year contract as a Ferrari Formula One test driver in 2006. Has competed in several rallies.

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