It's been a quiet week for the World Superbike championship. The much-rumored announcement that Max Biaggi would be joining the Alstare Suzuki team never developed, but it is known that series principals the Flammini brothers are working to get Biaggi a spot in the Superbike world championship.
One might ask a question like "why?" in regards to WSBK pushing to get Biaggi a ride in their series. While he may seem like a nightmare rider to add to a team, Biaggi is a well-known sporting personality in Europe and remains a near rock star in Italy in terms of popularity. With that comes a great deal of marketing cachet, so, although he can't land a ride in MotoGP, Biaggi still has many options in other series if he wants them.
Suzuki sources said this week that Flammini is pushing the Alstare squad to run three Superbike bikes in 2006 but that the third GSX-R won't be for Biaggi.
World Superbike fans will have to remain content with the news that broke this week that longtime GP man Alex Barros signed to ride with the Klaffi Honda team in 2006. Is it an accurate description to call Barros a mid-pack rider in MotoGP?he won a GP last year, but on the whole, his finishes were nothing to proclaim. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how a mid-pack MotoGP rider equates in World Superbike.
Who would have guessed that both 2005 Camel Honda riders, Troy Bayliss and Barros, would be in World Superbike in 2006, and the team now essentially defunct?
MotoGP favourite Max Biaggi has confirmed speculation that he is looking elsewhere for his kicks in 2006, notably the World Superbike Championship, after being left in an awkward position regarding a grand prix ride.
The Italian found himself unable to secure a deal in the top flight after effectively being dropped by Honda and, despite the patronage of JTI and Camel, is now facing a future away from MotoGP. The rumour mill linked Biaggi, and possible Camel/JTI backing, with a switch to the WSBK over the weekend, and the Roman Emperor has since confirmed the stories via his personal website.
"In these last two months, I have read a lots of things about myself, loads of incorrect reports, but I've decided to live with it and not even to reply," he wrote following a holiday in the USA, "It isn't worth it.
"As all of you already know, I have been put in this terrible situation by Honda and, as a consequence, I won't participate in MotoGP in 2006. [However], I have always appreciated [the WSBK], I have a few friends in there and they have all my respect. I am considering this opportunity as a very good one."
Biaggi also revealed his concerns that time may be running out on a deal, and that he had still been pursuing one last opportunity in MotoGP.
"The difficulties grow as time passes, especially in light of the fact that, since 15 December, we have still been trying to reach an agreement with Kawasaki," he wrote, "Now, time is running out and the Superbike championship will begin soon [but], in a week, we will try to get back to you and let you know the ultimate news."
The Italian has also not ruled out widening his options for 2006 and beyond...
"Certainly, if we add two more wheels, we could risk doing something totally different - and maybe interesting," he wrote enigmatically, "That is not a bad idea."
Biaggi has promised that the truth behind his season with Repsol and Honda, which led to his least competitive campaign in many years, would be revealed in a book soon to be published.
In what seems to be the final part of the Max Biaggi saga, the Roman Emperor has confirmed his divorce with MotoGP, blaming Honda for his inability to find a Grand Prix seat for next seat, and has now signed a deal to ride a third Corona-backed Suzuki in next year's World Superbike Championship.
So, after weeks, even months of negotiations, Max Biaggi is to quit MotoGP and join fellow MotoGP refugees Troy Bayliss, Alex Barros, Ruben Xaus and Franc Battaini in World Superbikes, but on the even of signing with Corona Suzuki, the Emperor had one last swipe at former employers Honda.
"As all of you already know I've have been put in this terrible situation by Honda and therefore I won't participate at the 2006 MotoGP Championship," he told his official website, before adding that a book containing many home truths will be released shortly.
"As for Superbikes, I have always appreciated this category, I also have few friends in there and they have all my respect," he added. "So this opportunity is a very good one."
At the time, a deal with Suzuki hadn't been signed, but on Wednesday, the 34-year old is reported to have put pen to paper to ride a third Suzuki GSXR1000 prepared by reignning champions Team Alstare Suzuki Corona.
The bike appeared in the provisional 2006 World Superbike entry list issued by the sports governing body, the FIM, on Wednesday, but it is thought that Biaggi will carry the number 30 as former MotoGP rider Norick Abe (Yamaha) has already claimed the No3.
Biaggi's first taste of the 1000cc Suzuki GSXR1000 will come during a four-day test at Phillip Island, Australia, next week (17-20), before heading to the Losail circuit in Qatar for a two-day test ahead of the opening round on the same circuit on February 25th.
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posted January 07, 2006 12:14 PM
