Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi was the Italian motorcycle racer and world champion in the World Superbike Championship 2010. Throughout his racing career, he has won the 250cc World Championship four times, and runner-up in both the 500cc and MotoGP. In 2007 he moved to World Superbike Championship, finishing third overall as a beginner and earned the world title in his first World Superbike Championship in 2010. He was dubbed 'Il Corsaro' ('The Corsair') and 'The Roman Emperor' ('Roman Emperor').
Careers
125cc
As a child Biaggi was more interested in football. But in 1989, after he was given a motorcycle to the seventeenth birthday, he immediately began his career racing in the 125cc class at the age of eighteen. In 1990 he won the Italian Sport Production Championship Championship. After the success in 125cc, Biaggi moved to the 250cc class.
250cc
In 1991, Biaggi became European champion with Aprilia RS250 motorcycle, and in the same year he finished the twenty-seventh in the 250cc class for the same manufacturer. In 1992, Biaggi completed the entire first season in the 250cc Grand Prix for Aprilia, and finished in fifth position overall. Later that season he won his first race at Kyalami, South Africa. The next 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 back to the ERV Kanemoto Honda team, and won a fourth title in a row. After that, he moved to the 500cc class.
125cc
As a child Biaggi was more interested in football. But in 1989, after he was given a motorcycle to the seventeenth birthday, he immediately began his career racing in the 125cc class at the age of eighteen. In 1990 he won the Italian Sport Production Championship Championship. After the success in 125cc, Biaggi moved to the 250cc class.
250cc
In 1991, Biaggi became European champion with Aprilia RS250 motorcycle, and in the same year he finished the twenty-seventh in the 250cc class for the same manufacturer. In 1992, Biaggi completed the entire first season in the 250cc Grand Prix for Aprilia, and finished in fifth position overall. Later that season he won his first race at Kyalami, South Africa. The next 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 back to the ERV Kanemoto Honda team, and won a fourth title in a row. After that, he moved to the 500cc class.
500cc Biaggi made an impressive start in his debut 500cc win the pole position, creating the fastest lap and won his first race at Suzuka in 1998 for Kanemoto Honda team. He also won in the Czech Republic and complete the entire season as runners-up behind the legendary Mick Doohan. Biaggi then joined the Yamaha for the fight against Honda that appear dominant. He finished fourth in 1999, third in 2000, and the second in 2001.
MotoGP In 2002, Biaggi riding a motorcycle 4 stroke for the first time. He won in Brno (Czech Republic) and Sepang (Malaysia) to grab the runner-up behind his rival, Valentino Rossi.
In 2003, Biaggi finished third in the MotoGP standings after re-joining the Camel Pramac Honda Pons team. It is expected that Biaggi would be one prime candidate for the world title in 2004, but the crash in Estoril make that hope is fading. At the end of the season, Biaggi 2004 MotoGP championship finish in third place, behind Sete Gibernau and world champion Rossi.
Biaggi started the 2005 season as the official factory Honda rider, joining American racer Nicky Hayden at Repsol Honda Team with technical director ERV Kanemoto. It is expected that the continuation of cooperation with Kanemoto and full support from Honda will make Biaggi as one of the major competitors in 2005. However, because the Honda was more supportive colleagues Biaggi, Hayden, Biaggi finished the season ranked only fifth.
MotoGP In 2002, Biaggi riding a motorcycle 4 stroke for the first time. He won in Brno (Czech Republic) and Sepang (Malaysia) to grab the runner-up behind his rival, Valentino Rossi.
In 2003, Biaggi finished third in the MotoGP standings after re-joining the Camel Pramac Honda Pons team. It is expected that Biaggi would be one prime candidate for the world title in 2004, but the crash in Estoril make that hope is fading. At the end of the season, Biaggi 2004 MotoGP championship finish in third place, behind Sete Gibernau and world champion Rossi.
Biaggi started the 2005 season as the official factory Honda rider, joining American racer Nicky Hayden at Repsol Honda Team with technical director ERV Kanemoto. It is expected that the continuation of cooperation with Kanemoto and full support from Honda will make Biaggi as one of the major competitors in 2005. However, because the Honda was more supportive colleagues Biaggi, Hayden, Biaggi finished the season ranked only fifth.
Biaggi lost his position for the 2006 season, his place filled by 250cc champion, Dani Pedrosa. He negotiated with Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki, but still did not reach a contract agreement even with the support of the Camel, sponsor. On January 10, 2006, Biaggi posted on his website that he will not take part in the MotoGP 2006 season.
World Superbike Championship
Biaggi tried to reach an agreement in order to race in World Superbike Championship (WSBK) for Corona Alstare Suzuki team in 2006, but the team can not accept it because they still retain the old rider, champion Troy Corser and Yukio 2005 Kagayama. As a result, he took a sabbatical, but on September 14, 2006, Biaggi announced he had signed a contract to replace Troy Corser.
Biaggi started the season by winning the first race at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and finishing second in race two. Max Biaggi became one of five people who won their first race in WSBK, and the only racer who had won his first race in the Superbike and 500cc GP. He then finished 3 and 4 at Phillip Island, Australia. Max Biaggi finally in third place standings, behind World Champion James Toseland and Yamaha rider Noriyuki Haga. At the end of the season, Francis Batta, Alstare Suzuki Racing's team director, was forced off Biaggi, because the loss of major sponsors Corona Extra. In addition, Suzuki decided to pull the team of the manufacturer of WSBK for 2008, and focus on the MotoGP championship.
In 2008, Biaggi joined the privateer team Sterilgarda / GoEleven, in collaboration with Ruben Xaus. Seven podium standings drove in seven positions, three places ahead of Xaus and one place ahead of Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio.
In 2009 he rejoined the team of the manufacturer Aprilia. He climbed the podium in two races in Qatar, and continue to score points before taking his first victory at Brno, after race leader Ben Spies Fabrizio and collide. He finished second behind Spies in race 2, and finished the season as a whole in position 4.
Biaggi remains with Aprilia for 2010, double champion in Monza drove up to the second position in the standings. Another double victory in the United States gave him first place in the standings, after the previous championship leader Leon Haslam failed to finish the race.
In August 2010, Biaggi signed a two-year contract extension with Aprilia.
In 2010, Biaggi to Aprilia and Italian racer who first won the World Championship in the World Superbike Championship.
Personal Life
Biaggi known by the nickname "The Roman Emperor" is also "Mad Max" and famous for a difficult relationship with the press, team personnel and other riders.
Throughout his career, Biaggi is famous for hot rivalry with compatriot Valentino Rossi. This competition featured in a documentary film about motorcycle racing in 2003, entitled "faster", where Biaggi and Rossi appeared.
In 1997, he was reportedly dating supermodel Naomi Campbell. This leads to the insults made by Rossi. At one celebration of his victory, Rossi riding the blonde doll behind him to make fun of the relationship Biaggi. At the Spanish GP, 2001, both drivers are fistfight just before the podium. There are attempts to cover up the incident from the press but soon came to light.
In 2006 he tested the F1 car for the Midland F1 team at Silverstone. He traveled the equivalent of normal F1 race without any problems, while Valentino lost control twice when testing the Ferrari F1 car in the same year. Biaggi also commented, "Finally there is anything I can do better than him (Rossi)."
Biaggi is now engaged to Miss Italy 2002 Eleonora Pedron, they were blessed with 2 children.
Career Highlights
1992 5th - 250cc Grand Prix World Championship
1993 4th - 250cc Grand Prix World Championship
1994 1st - 250cc Grand Prix World Championship
1995 1st - 250cc Grand Prix World Championship
1996 1st - 250cc Grand Prix World Championship
1997 1st - 250cc Grand Prix World Championship
1998 2nd - 500cc Grand Prix World Championship
1999 4th - 500cc Grand Prix World Championship
2000 3rd - 500cc Grand Prix World Championship
2001 2nd - 500cc Grand Prix World Championship
2002 2nd - MotoGP World Championship
2003 3rd - MotoGP World Championship
2004 3rd - MotoGP World Championship
2005 5th - MotoGP World Championship
2006 N/A
2007 3rd - World Superbike Championship
2008 7th - World Superbike Championship
2009 4th - World Superbike Championship
2010 1st - World Superbike Championship
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