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Where next for Max Biaggi?

© Getty Images
By Dan Moakes
February 1 2006
Massimiliano Biaggi is one of the most successful Grand Prix riders of recent years, with 42 race victories and 56 pole positions from his fourteen seasons in the spotlight. But, after eight years in the top GP class, Max looks to be out of options for 2006.

Max Biaggi arrived on the GP scene in the 250cc class, fresh from taking the 1991 European title with four wins, two seconds, and five fastest laps. After two years of apprenticeship, with ten podium results scored, Max became the dominant force in 250s. Three consecutive world titles with Aprilia included 22 race wins; and five more wins, after switching to Honda, brought his fourth crown in a row. 33 poles and 28 fastest laps marked him out as the dominant rider of the period, and he duly graduated to the premier 500cc category in 1998.

© Getty Images
© Getty Images

An impressive start brought him victory at the first attempt, at Suzuka in Japan, but in the end Max and the Kanemoto Honda were defeated by the marque’s number one rider, Mick Doohan. The trouble was that people in the know had seen that Biaggi hadn’t entirely adapted his riding to the 500s. With seven years of 250 competition behind him, the Roman would run at high speeds in the sweeping corners, but seemed not to get on so well at tighter, stop-start circuits. These voices had not gone away after four years on the 500s, nor would they after the switch up to 990cc four-stroke machines; but of course success is relative...

Max had become the Yamaha team leader for 1999, and fulfilled the role through four years. The marque were looking to regain the title last held in 1992, but Biaggi’s efforts for the factory did not lead them to the success formerly provided by Wayne Rainey and Team Roberts. However, the man in red added wins in every season and, with three of them in 2001, regained his runner-up status in the top class. The opposite corner by now was yellow, occupied by Valentino Rossi and Honda, and the two Italian riders embarked on a fierce rivalry, but with the new man on top most often.

Because the other side to the Biaggi story has been the personality clashes, with both riders and the bike manufacturers themselves. Max and Doohan were hardly friendly rivals, but now the ‘Roman Emperor’ was cast in the role of anti-hero to new star Rossi’s status as idol for the 21st century. Valentino’s story is well known, with the younger rider hailed as the master of all classes in turn, leaving Max to bemoan the Honda’s superiority. 2003 saw the opportunity to switch camps, but Biaggi would feel that his standing in the customer pecking order still left him with a machine disadvantage. He wound up third Honda man that season, but with insult yet to be added to injury.

2004 saw Rossi fill Biaggi’s former seat at Yamaha, with rider, team and machine combining to full effect with a first title victory for the M1. The season had seemed like an opportunity waiting to be grabbed, if Max could emerge as top Honda rider, but, despite some measure of disappointment, he still did enough to finally earn a move to the 2005 full works Repsol team. But the latest season has been about how Rossi and Yamaha stretched further out of reach, with Biaggi’s form tailing off as he went winless for the first full year of his GP career.

Which brings us right up to date. Max’s discontent with the latest RC211V was clear enough, and his comments probably cost him a couple of 2006 ride options. Let go from the works team, the likely first choice seemed to be a return to the Sito Pons-Camel squad, only Honda seemingly didn’t agree. The sponsor decided to move on as a result, and next was the chance of a Camel link with Kawasaki, only tyre suppliers Bridgestone couldn’t provide for a third machine. Ironically, the familiar yellow livery would ultimately go to Rossi and Yamaha, the make which would surely not stretch to a slot for Max. Finally, it seemed that Alstare Suzuki would have a place for Biaggi in World Superbikes, but now even that option has been discounted.

Having already tested for the Midland F1 team, and unlikely as it seems now, could this career path be the main one still open to the 34-year-old? Surely the dream of that MotoGP title must now be gone, but what of Max Biaggi the man? Is he a misunderstood superstar, or a flawed racer; unlucky, or not up to it? And what does his future hold? Call in to our message board if you think you know.


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