Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi (born June 26, 1971 in Rome, Italy) is an Italian motorcycle racer and winner of the (current) 2010 World Superbike Championship. Throughout this racing career, he has won the 250cc World Championship four times, and finished as runner-up in both the 500cc and MotoGP championships. In 2007 he switched to the World Superbike Championship, finishing third overall as a rookie and earned his first Superbike World Championship in 2010 becoming only the 2nd European from outside of the United Kingdom after Raymond Roche to do so.
He has been nicknamed 'il Corsaro' ('the Corsair') and 'the Roman Emperor'.
Career
125cc
Biaggi was more interested in football as a child. But in 1989, after he was given a motorcycle for his seventeenth birthday, he began his racing career in the 125cc class at age eighteen. In 1990 he won the Italian Sport Production Championship. Following his success in 125cc, Biaggi moved up to the 250cc class.250cc
In 1991, Biaggi became the European champion on an Aprilia RS250, and that same year he finished twenty-seventh in the Grand Prix motorcycle 250cc world championship riding for the same manufacturer. In 1992, Biaggi completed his first entire season in 250cc Grand Prix for Aprilia, and finished the season fifth overall. In that same season he took his first victory in Kyalami, South Africa. The following season, Biaggi joined Honda, and finished fourth in the championship standings, including a single victory in Barcelona. In 1994 he returned to Aprilia and dominated the 250cc Grand Prix championship by winning three consecutive titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996. In 1997, Biaggi again returned to Honda, riding for Erv Kanemoto's team, and won his fourth consecutive title. Following that, he moved up to the 500cc class.500cc
Biaggi made an impressive start in his 500cc debut, qualifying on pole, setting the fastest lap and winning his first race in the 1998 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix at Suzuka, riding for the Kanemoto Honda team. He was also victorious at the Czech Republic Grand Prix and finished the season in second place behind Mick Doohan. Biaggi then joined Yamaha to battle against the dominant Hondas. He finished fourth in 1999, third in 2000, and second in 2001.MotoGP
In 2002, Biaggi rode the four-stroke for the first time as development on the new motorcycle remained strong throughout the season. He won in Brno, Czech Republic and Sepang, Malaysia to clinch runner-up in the championship behind rival Valentino Rossi. In 2003, Biaggi finished third in the MotoGP championship after rejoining Honda on the Camel Pramac Pons team. It was expected that Biaggi would be one of the main candidates for the title in 2004, but a crash in Estoril saw his season begin to fade. At the end of the 2004 MotoGP season Biaggi finished the championship in third place, behind Sete Gibernau and series winner, Rossi.Biaggi started the 2005 MotoGP season as an official factory Honda rider, joining American racer Nicky Hayden on the Repsol Honda Team with technical director Erv Kanemoto. It was hoped that continued cooperation with Kanemoto and the full factory support from Honda would make Biaggi one of the main title contenders in 2005. However, Biaggi finished the season in only fifth place.
Biaggi lost his ride for the 2006 season, his position filled by 2005 250cc Grand Prix champion, Dani Pedrosa. He negotiated with Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki, however, was unable to land a contract even with the backing of major tobacco sponsor Camel who ended up signing up to be the factory Yamaha squad's title sponsor for 2006. On January 10, 2006, Biaggi posted on his website that he would not take part in the 2006 MotoGP season.
Superbike World Championship
Biaggi attempted to reach an agreement to race the Superbike World Championship for Corona Alstare Suzuki in 2006, but the team could not commit to equal equipment with their existing riders, 2005 champion Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama. As a result, he took a sabbatical, but on September 14, 2006, Biaggi announced he had signed to replace Corser in the team for 2007.Biaggi began the season by winning the first race at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and finishing second in race two. In doing so Max Biaggi became one of only five men to win their first Superbike World Championship race, and the only rider ever to win his first Superbike race and his first race in 500cc Grand Prix. He then finished 3rd and 4th at Phillip Island, Australia.
After a hard championship Max Biaggi finished third, behind World Champion James Toseland and Yamaha top rider Noriyuki Haga.
At the end of the season, Francis Batta, Alstare Suzuki Racing Team director, was forced to release Biaggi, due to the loss of the main sponsor Corona Extra, as they could not reach financial agreement. Furthermore, Suzuki decided to stop official Superbike development for 2008, instead focusing on the MotoGP championship. For 2008 Biaggi rode a privateer Ducati 1098RS for the Sterilgarda/GoEleven team, teamed with Ruben Xaus. He finished seventh overall with seven podiums, three places ahead of Xaus and one ahead of factory Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio.
For 2009 he joined the returning factory Aprilia team. He took a double podium in round 2 at Qatar, and scored solid points before taking their first win since the return at Brno, after race leaders Fabrizio and Ben Spies collided. He finished a close second behind Spies in race two there, and finished the season 4th overall.
Biaggi continued with Aprilia for 2010, taking a double victory at the team's home race at Monza to move up to second in the standings. Another double in the USA gave him first place in the championship, after previous leader Leon Haslam failed to finish in race 2.
In August 2010, Biaggi signed a renewed, two year contract with Aprilia to remain with the team in World Superbikes until 2012.
In 2010, Biaggi became Aprilia's and Italy's first Riders' World Championship in World Superbike Championship.
Personal life
Biaggi is known as the Roman Emperor and Mad Max and is notorious for his difficult relationships with the press, team personnel and other riders.Throughout his career, Biaggi is best known for his heated rivalry with compatriot Valentino Rossi and other riders. The rivalry was featured in the 2003 documentary film about motorcycle racing, Faster, in which both Biaggi and Rossi appear. In 1997, he was rumored to be dating supermodel Naomi Campbell as they were seen boarding the same aircraft separately. This led to insults by Rossi while during some after race celebrations he rode with a blonde blow up doll that was dressed in a football jersey with the name Claudia Schiffer on the back to poke fun at the relationship. At the 2001 Spanish GP, the two riders came to blows following the race. There was an attempt to cover up the fight from the press but it was soon revealed. In 2006 he tested for the Midland F1 team at the Silverstone circuit for which he was touted he might land a race seat, but this never happened. He has completed the equivalent of a full race distance without issues, while Valentino, testing a Ferrari F1 car during the same year, spun twice. Biaggi was said to have commented, "Finally there's something I can do better than him (Rossi)."
He is currently engaged to Miss Italia 2002 winner and TV personality Eleonora Pedron; together they have a daughter Inés Angelica Biaggi and one son Leon Alexandre Biaggi.
Grand Prix career statistics
All stats according to MotoGP.comSeason | Class | Motorcycle | Team | Race | Win | Podium | Pole | FLap | Pts | Plcd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | 250cc | Aprilia RS250 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 27th | |
1992 | 250cc | Aprilia RS250 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 78 | 5th | |
1993 | 250cc | Honda NSR250 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 142 | 4th | |
1994 | 250cc | Aprilia RS250 | 14 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 234 | 1st | |
1995 | 250cc | Aprilia RS250 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 283 | 1st | |
1996 | 250cc | Aprilia RS250 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 274 | 1st | |
1997 | 250cc | Honda NSR250 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 250 | 1st | |
1998 | 500cc | Honda NSR500 | Team Kanemoto | 14 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 208 | 2nd |
1999 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | Yamaha-YMR | 16 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 194 | 4th |
2000 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | Yamaha-YMR | 16 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 170 | 3rd |
2001 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | Yamaha-YMR | 16 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 219 | 2nd |
2002 | MotoGP | Yamaha YZR-M1 | Yamaha-YMR | 16 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 215 | 2nd |
2003 | MotoGP | Honda RC211V | Sito Pons | 16 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 228 | 3rd |
2004 | MotoGP | Honda RC211V | Sito Pons | 16 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 217 | 3rd |
2005 | MotoGP | Honda RC211V | Honda-HRC | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 173 | 5th |
Total | 214 | 42 | 111 | 56 | 42 | 2892 |
Year | Series | Poles | Races | Podiums | Wins | 2nd place | 3rd place | Fast Laps | Titles | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Time | World Superbike (SBK) | 2 | 109 | 49 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 1 |
Races by year
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)Year | Class | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pos | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | 250cc | Aprilia |
JPN |
AUS |
USA |
SPA |
ITA |
GER |
AUT |
EUR Ret |
NED |
FRA 13 |
GBR Ret |
RSM 12 |
CZE |
VDM |
MAL |
27th | 7 | ||
1992 | 250cc | Aprilia |
JPN Ret |
AUS 8 |
MAL Ret |
SPA 10 |
ITA 3 |
EUR 3 |
GER 2 |
NED Ret |
HUN Ret |
FRA DNS |
GBR Ret |
BRA 2 |
RSA 1 |
5th | 78 | ||||
1993 | 250cc | Honda |
AUS 3 |
MAL 17 |
JPN Ret |
SPA 2 |
AUT 5 |
GER 4 |
NED Ret |
EUR 1 |
RSM 5 |
GBR 6 |
CZE 2 |
ITA Ret |
USA Ret |
FIM 3 |
4th | 142 | |||
1994 | 250cc | Aprilia |
AUS 1 |
MAL 1 |
JPN 4 |
SPA Ret |
AUT 2 |
GER 2 |
NED 1 |
ITA Ret |
FRA 3 |
GBR Ret |
CZE 1 |
USA 2 |
ARG 2 |
EUR 1 |
1st | 234 | |||
1995 | 250cc | Aprilia |
AUS 3 |
MAL 1 |
JPN 9 |
SPA 2 |
GER 1 |
ITA 1 |
NED 1 |
FRA 2 |
GBR 1 |
CZE 1 |
BRA 2 |
ARG 1 |
EUR 1 |
1st | 283 | ||||
1996 | 250cc | Aprilia |
MAL 1 |
INA 2 |
JPN 1 |
SPA 1 |
ITA 1 |
FRA 1 |
NED 3 |
GER 4 |
GBR 1 |
AUT Ret |
CZE 1 |
IMO Ret |
CAT 1 |
BRA Ret |
AUS 1 |
1st | 274 | ||
1997 | 250cc | Honda |
MAL 1 |
JPN 7 |
SPA 3 |
ITA 1 |
AUT 3 |
FRA 2 |
NED DSQ |
IMO 1 |
GER 4 |
BRA 5 |
GBR Ret |
CZE 1 |
CAT 2 |
INA 1 |
AUS 2 |
1st | 250 | ||
1998 | 500cc | Honda |
JPN 1 |
MAL 3 |
SPA 3 |
ITA 2 |
FRA 5 |
MAD 6 |
NED 2 |
GBR 6 |
GER 2 |
CZE 1 |
IMO 3 |
CAT DSQ |
AUS 8 |
ARG 5 |
2nd | 208 | |||
1999 | 500cc | Yamaha |
MAL Ret |
JPN 9 |
SPA 2 |
FRA Ret |
ITA 2 |
CAT Ret |
NED 5 |
GBR 4 |
GER Ret |
CZE 4 |
IMO 3 |
VAL 7 |
AUS 2 |
RSA 1 |
BRA 2 |
ARG 2 |
4th | 194 | |
2000 | 500cc | Yamaha |
RSA Ret |
MAL 4 |
JPN Ret |
SPA Ret |
FRA Ret |
ITA 9 |
CAT 5 |
NED 4 |
GBR 9 |
GER 4 |
CZE 1 |
POR 4 |
VAL 3 |
BRA 5 |
PAC 3 |
AUS 1 |
3rd | 170 | |
2001 | 500cc | Yamaha |
JPN 3 |
RSA 8 |
SPA 11 |
FRA 1 |
ITA 3 |
CAT 2 |
NED 1 |
GBR 2 |
GER 1 |
CZE 10 |
POR 5 |
VAL 10 |
PAC Ret |
AUS 2 |
MAL Ret |
BRA 3 |
2nd | 219 | |
2002 | MotoGP | Yamaha |
JPN Ret |
RSA 9 |
SPA DSQ |
FRA 3 |
ITA 2 |
CAT 4 |
NED 4 |
GBR 2 |
GER 2 |
CZE 1 |
POR 6 |
BRA 2 |
PAC Ret |
MAL 1 |
AUS 6 |
VAL 3 |
2nd | 215 | |
2003 | MotoGP | Honda |
JPN 2 |
RSA 3 |
SPA 2 |
FRA 5 |
ITA 3 |
CAT 14 |
NED 2 |
GBR 1 |
GER Ret |
CZE 5 |
POR 2 |
BRA 4 |
PAC 1 |
MAL 3 |
AUS 17 |
VAL 4 |
3rd | 228 | |
2004 | MotoGP | Honda |
RSA 2 |
SPA 2 |
FRA 3 |
ITA 3 |
CAT 8 |
NED 4 |
BRA 2 |
GER 1 |
GBR 12 |
CZE 3 |
POR Ret |
JPN Ret |
QAT 6 |
MAL 2 |
AUS 7 |
VAL 2 |
3rd | 217 | |
2005 | MotoGP | Honda |
SPA 7 |
POR 3 |
CHN 5 |
FRA 5 |
ITA 2 |
CAT 6 |
NED 6 |
USA 4 |
GBR Ret |
GER 4 |
CZE 3 |
JPN 2 |
MAL 6 |
QAT Ret |
AUS Ret |
TUR 12 |
VAL 6 |
5th | 173 |
World Superbike Championship
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)Year | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | |||||
2007 | Suzuki |
QAT 1 |
QAT 2 |
AUS 3 |
AUS 4 |
EUR 3 |
EUR 2 |
SPA 8 |
SPA 2 |
NED 6 |
NED 3 |
ITA 3 |
ITA 5 |
GBR 6 |
GBR C |
SMR Ret |
SMR 3 |
CZE 2 |
CZE 1 |
GBR 3 |
GBR 8 |
GER 2 |
GER 3 |
ITA 1 |
ITA 2 |
FRA 6 |
FRA 2 |
3rd | 397 | |||
2008 | Ducati |
QAT 2 |
QAT 3 |
AUS Ret |
AUS Ret |
SPA 16 |
SPA 8 |
NED 10 |
NED 12 |
ITA 5 |
ITA Ret |
USA 9 |
USA 4 |
GER 13 |
GER 7 |
SMR Ret |
SMR 2 |
CZE 4 |
CZE 3 |
GBR 3 |
GBR 12 |
EUR 3 |
EUR 6 |
ITA 2 |
ITA Ret |
FRA 4 |
FRA 6 |
POR Ret |
POR 13 |
7th | 238 | |
2009 | Aprilia |
AUS 11 |
AUS 15 |
QAT 3 |
QAT 3 |
SPA 8 |
SPA 8 |
NED 5 |
NED Ret |
ITA 11 |
ITA 5 |
RSA 5 |
RSA 5 |
USA 6 |
USA 4 |
SMR 13 |
SMR 10 |
GBR 2 |
GBR 21 |
CZE 1 |
CZE 2 |
GER 5 |
GER 4 |
ITA 2 |
ITA 4 |
FRA 3 |
FRA 2 |
POR 3 |
POR 6 |
4th | 319 | |
2010 | Aprilia |
AUS 5 |
AUS 8 |
POR 1 |
POR 1 |
SPA 2 |
SPA 3 |
NED 6 |
NED 4 |
ITA 1 |
ITA 1 |
RSA 4 |
RSA 3 |
USA 1 |
USA 1 |
SMR 1 |
SMR 1 |
CZE 2 |
CZE 1 |
GBR 5 |
GBR 6 |
GER 4 |
GER 5 |
ITA 11 |
ITA 5 |
FRA 4 |
FRA 1 |
1st | 451 | |||
2011 | Aprilia |
AUS 2 |
AUS 2 |
EUR 7 |
EUR DSQ |
NED 2 |
NED 2 |
ITA 2 |
ITA 8 |
USA Ret |
USA 3 |
SMR 2 |
SMR 2 |
SPA 2 |
SPA 1 |
CZE 2 |
CZE 1 |
GBR 11 |
GBR 4 |
GER |
GER |
ITA |
ITA |
FRA |
FRA |
POR |
POR |
2nd* | 281* |
- * Season in progress.
References
- ^ Max Biaggi at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ "Max Biaggi Biography", Motorbike Sport, 5 January 2009, retrieved 2010-06-25
- ^ http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/4444-max-the-first-italian-wsbk-champ.html
- ^ "Biaggi Signs With Sterilgarda Ducai WSBK!". SuperbikePlanet.com. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
- ^ Biaggi savours ‘perfect result’ on home soil
- ^ "Biaggi signs with Aprilia until 2012". Insidebikes. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Max Biaggi Bio", MotorcycleUSA, January 21, 2008, retrieved 2010-06-25
- ^ Macauley, Ted (26 June 2001), "Motorcycling: Italian pair take rivalry to the Max", Daily Mirror (London): 3, retrieved 2010-06-25
- ^ Alonso, Ivan (31 October 20012004-10-31), "Rossi takes ninth victory of the season in Valencia", Motorsport.com, retrieved 2010-06-25
- ^ Every, Rob (25 February 2007), "WSBK: Roman Emperor Max Biaggi has landed!", Motorcycle Racing Online, retrieved 2010-06-25
- ^ http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/4836-congratulations-to-max-biaggi.html
- ^ "Max Biaggi". MotoGP.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Portimao; 31 October, 1–2 November 2008: Superbike – Championship Standings". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. 2008-11-02. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "2009 Standings Riders – FIM Superbike World Championship". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "2010 Standings Riders – FIM Superbike World Championship". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. Retrieved 2010-07-07.