All posts tagged max biaggi
Aprilia to replace the RSV4 Factory at the end of 2013
During yesterday’s Aprilia Factory Team presentation and press conference in Milan, five time World Champion Max Biaggi let it slip that 2012 will be an all important season for the Aprilia Superbike team as it will be the penultimate year for the RSV4 Factory, as development on the bike will be halted in 2013 and that it will be replaced at the end of 2013.
What Aprilia has in store for fans has yet to be leaked, but if they want to compete against the stunning 1199 Ducati Panigale, we could see another important step forward in Italian design and performance.
Aprilia Factory Superbike Team presentation at Milan
Our colleagues at Motoblog.it are at Aprilia’s 2012 Superbike team presentation at Piaggio’s Spazio Broletto in Milan to present this season’s rider line-up Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty.
Since the team will no longer be running under the Alitalia title sponsorship banner, they’ve reverted back to the original Aprilia corporate colours livery they used in 2009 when they returned to the World Superbike championship.
Technical and Sporting Director will again be Gigi Dall’Igna, and the new Team Manager will be Dario Raimondi. The late Marco Simoncelli’s crewchief Aligi Deganello will be following Max Biaggi’s side of the garage (since Giovanni Sandi left with almost all of Biaggi’s crew), while Marcus Eschembacher while be following Eugene Laverty.
After the jump, more pics and two videos from the team presentation including the RSV4 technical specifications:
Continue reading: Aprilia Factory Superbike Team presentation at Milan
Aligi Deganello is Max Biaggi's new crewchief
Aligi Deganello was the late Marco Simoncelli’s crewchief from 2007 and Simoncelli had insisted bringing his beloved crewchief and 250cc pit crew into MotoGP after winning the 250cc title despite Fausto Gresini’s doubts regarding the team’s complete inexperience in setting up a MotoGP bike, now Deganello has decided after much pondering to give up the GP paddock and become Max Biaggi’s new crew chief in World Superbikes, after the defection of Giovanni Sandi and Enrico Folegnani’s refusal.
For Deganello is wasn’t an easy decision to make, but he needed the change as he said in an interview with Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, “I spoke with Max, he seemed particularly betrayed by the man he thought was almost like a father. He has a huge desire for re-win the championship and at this point this will be my mission, to give him the tools to win races and maybe even the title. The team is made up of two guys who were with Camier, one from inside Aprilia’s development team and the other is a telemetrist. Immediately after the holidays we’re going to Aprilia to put together the bikes and then to Australia for the last tests ahead of the start of the championship season. I’m may lose sight of some old friends and I’m sorry, but I need this radical change. “
It was Paolo Simoncelli, Marco’s father who recommended that Deganello make the move: “Before going to Noale to hear what they had to offer me, I called Paolo Simoncelli, my “manager.” Basically we talk almost every day and he told me to accept the offer by saying - See, it’s a signal that Marco is sending you, the situation is almost impossible to imagine, with Sandi leaving. Go .. and see if there’s also a job for me - I don’t think this will happen. For me Paolo should work with the Federation, with kids in the minibike championship or for promotional championships, with his experience he’d be the perfect person.
Continue reading: Aligi Deganello is Max Biaggi's new crewchief
Max Biaggi's Aprilia team still missing pieces
You’d think that with this economy and the tough time in finding a decent job that people would jump at the opportunity to crew for Aprilia’s world superbike effort and work with a five time World Champion like Max Biaggi, but apparently something isn’t quite working in Noale.
Biaggi’s long time crew chief Giovanni Sandi dumped the Aprilia team supposedly after a falling out with the Italian manufacturer when they refused to supply his son Federico with an official RSV4 taking several mechanics with him - he’s rumored to be heading to Ioda Racing’s new MotoGP team.
Aprilia called in Enrico Folegnani, an engineer who had formerly worked with Biaggi for the recent Portimao test, but after thinking over the job offer, Folegnani officially turned it down (with a press release) citing that he needs to follow his family and his job with EF Consulting and has previous commitments.
Aprilia and Biaggi are expecting to fill the missing positions by Christmas.
Source | motoblog.it
Max Biaggi: "I'm not going to retire" (w/video)
In a brief interview with RAI 1 (one of Italy’s national public service broadcasting stations) Max Biaggi talked about the fact that even if he’s forty he has not intention of retiring from racing so his fans can rest assured. Naturally he was also asked to comment on his former MotoGP arch rival Valentino Rossi’s 2011 season, which he summed up with one word, bad.
Asked why Casey Stoner was the only one able to ride the Ducati and get results, Biaggi replies that the answer is too simple, because Stoner is the phenomeneon of this MotoGP. Asked to remember Marco Simoncelli and the 2009 Imola round, the Roman Emperor remembers the contact they had, which he simply says that it happens in racing.
The five time World Champion said that being in the delivery room for the birth of his first born child Ines was the best moment of his life and that left him speechless as she was a ray of sunshine that illuminated the night.
Max Biaggi upset over loss of crew chief Sandi
Alitalia Aprilia is losing important pieces in their World Superbike team structure, Francesco Guidotti has left to became a team manager for Pramac Racing in MotoGP and now they’ve lost legendary Aprilia crew chief Giovanni Sandi who seems will heading to MotoGP to work for Ioda Racing’s CRT team.
Max Biaggi is currently testing at Portimao and the former World Superbike champion is upset over Sandi’s leaving the team, “Sandi has disappointed me from a human standpoint. I knew there were problems and I did what I could to help fix the differences that he had with the company. Had it been a matter of money I would have personally made up the difference, that’s how much I care about him and the team.” said Biaggi speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport.
It seems that Sandi wanted an official RSV4 for his 22-year old son Federico, who is the 2011 CIV Superbike runner-up, something that Biaggi couldn’t stand and criticized, “he behaved like a father and fan instead of being a professional.”
Replacing Sandi is Enrico Folegnani who knows Biaggi from way back in 1992 when the Corsaro debuted in the 250cc racing class with Aprilia.
Source | motoblog.it
Eugene Laverty to partner Max Biaggi in Aprilia Alitalia team
In a brief press release Aprilia Racing has announced that Eugene Laverty, who recently signed a two-year contract with the Italian World Superbike team, will be partnering Max Biaggi in the Aprilia Alitalia factory team this upcoming season.
Laverty has already got his first taste of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory during the annual post season test at Portimao. He rode Biaggi’s RSV4, with Aprilia Racing techs folllowing his debut, but since it was run out of the Pata Aprilia garage, it gave way to speculation that he would be placed in the satellite team, albeit with a factory bike and taking Noriyuki Haga’s place, but that rumor has now been officially laid to rest.
After adapting the small and compact bike to his riding style, Laverty posted several fast laps and ended the test day as the fastest rider with a best lap of 1.42.8 that took him to the top of the unofficial time sheet.
Max Biaggi to return to action at Portimao
Max Biaggi will be returning to action in this weekend’s last round of the World Superbike season at Portimao. The Italian missed the last three crucial rounds due to a freak incident at Nurburgring that fractured his foot, which dropped him out of the title running against Carlos Checa, who lifted the 2011 crown at Magny Cours.
Even if he isn’t completely healed, Biaggi is making the effort to finish the season in style and try to repeat his 2010 double victory at the Portughese track, Carlos Checa permitting.
“I really hoped to get back onto the track quickly,” said the Aprilia Alitalia rider. “This is the first time in my career that I’ve missed races. Obviously my condition is not at 100%, but the desire to get onto the track in Portimao is very strong. The kind messages I received from my fans certainly helped to speed up my recovery! Portimao is a beautiful track, very demanding and spectacular. Last year I took the first double victory for myself and Aprilia, so we’ll know straight away during the Friday practice sessions what results we can aim for. I’ve worked as much as possible to recover muscle tone and to prepare as best I can.”
Team mate Leon Camier is also looking to end the season in style, in what will be his last race with the Aprilia factory team, as it is almost 99% certain that Eugene Laverty will be replacing him on the RSV4 next season.
Continue reading: Max Biaggi to return to action at Portimao
Eugene Laverty to partner Max Biaggi in Aprilia in 2012
Eugene Laverty, according to Italian website motosprint.it will be riding for World Superbike’s Aprilia Alitalia Racing team and fielded alongside Max Biaggi in 2012.
Laverty was tipped to ride for BMW Italia, who was offering him a contract for 300.000 euros, but Aprilia’s Sport Director Gigi Dall’Igna stepped up his offer for the Irish rider after Marco Melandri decided to opt for the BMW factory team.
The official announcement is expected to be made during this weekend’s final round of the World Superbike season at Portimao, and Laverty will get his first taste of the RSV4 during the post-season test that takes place on Tuesday, October 18th.
Max Biaggi to miss Magny Cours round
Max Biaggi will be missing the penultimate round of the World Superbike championship this weekend at Magny Cours, as his fractured metatarsus has yet to heal sufficiently in order to allow him to race.
Biaggi was injured during free practice at Nurburgring and was forced to miss the Imola round thus officially giving Carlos Checa free reign in the fight for the championship title.
“I would have liked to have been at Magny Cours, just as I wanted to race at Imola,” said the Aprilia Alitalia rider. The fact that I was at the track on Thursday to try any possible solution confirms that, even if, unfortunately, I had to give in to the medical evidence. And the same thing happened for Magny Cours, a round which is just too close to hope for recovery. Unfortunately this injury requires a recovery time which does not reconcile with my desires. Now I’ll do my best to go through the recovery process and to end this season at the Portimao round”.
With the Italian to miss this further round, Yamaha’s Eugene Laverty has the chance to take third place in the standings, as he’s currently 25 points from Biaggi.
Max Biaggi to miss Imola Superbike round
Max Biaggi will not be racing in this weekend’s World Superbike round. The Aprilia Alitalia rider who won his his World Superbike title at Imola last year, will be forced to skip the Italian round as hasn’t recovered from his foot injury.
Biaggi was hit by an unidentified object at Nurburgring a little more than two weeks ago, that fractured a bone in his left foot, and following a medical check-up that the Italian underwent today, it was revealed that the fracture has still not healed.
According to several Italian websites, Biaggi may be forced to also skip next week’s round at Magny Cours.
With the Aprilia rider out of action, Carlos Checa has only Marco Melandri to worry about, and the Yamaha rider is a distant 74 points behind him with just six races to go.
Max Biaggi updates on physical condition, Imola round at risk?
Max Biaggi had to sit out both races at Nurburgring ( missing a race for the first time in 19 years of his career), thus giving an even more freer reign to Carlos Checa’s march to this year’s championship title.
The Aprilia Alitalia rider fractured his left foot in Friday’s free practice in a strange incident where he was hit by flying debris, and his partecipation in the upcoming round at Imola is still in doubt as his recovery is not as going as fast as he expected, even if he didn’t have to undergo surgery to correct the fracture he sustained.
Biaggi wrote this update to his fans in his personal blog:
Hello people! Here I am at 10 days after my bad injury (damned unlucky) to write about my physical condition. The pain from the fracture started letting up only yesterday. Moreover, the fracture was displaced and I knew it would be more difficult than expected. I’m working all day using magnetic therapy and doing small movements. But the thing is more complicated than expected. Time is short and the difficulties are huge … but I’m trying with all my strength. I really want to go racing again.
I am sending you a photo of me, and this was the first time I left my house in Monaco since I returned home … finally! This week will be important in trying to step up my recovery and I’m putting my body and soul in being at Imola. I can’t assure you anything, except the fact that I’m going to fight to be there. I’m constantly in contact with Dr. Claudio Costa and with my physiotherapist. These long days at home made me I realize that the time never passes, but my kids give me joy and keep up my moral … it’s a great sensation. Well now I leave you and give you an update next week. ”
Source | motoblog.it
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