BIAGGI....for Kawasaki !

[Smitty]

latest.....

Italy's Biaggi quits after Honda row

January 12, 2006 - 12:42PM


Four-time world motorcycling champion Max Biaggi has quit MotoGP after failing to patch up his differences with Honda, the 34-year-old Italian has confirmed on his personal website.

Biaggi, who has been eclipsed by compatriot Valentino Rossi in recent years, said he is now looking at competing in the World Superbike Championships and is currently in talks with Kawasaki.

"I have been put in this terrible situation by Honda and as a consequence I won't participate in MotoGP in 2006," he said.

"Now I am looking at superbikes. I have always appreciated this category, I also have a few friends in there and they have all my respect. So I am considering this opportunity as a very good one.

"The difficulties grow as time passes though, in light of the fact that since December 15 we have been trying to reach an agreement with Kawasaki."

Biaggi's chances of seriously challenging Rossi last year were scuppered by a broken leg in pre-season and he ended the campaign in fifth position.

Two second place finishes were his best results and he only made the podium twice in the first seven races, six of which were won by Rossi.

- AFP

[MickLC]

Typical bloody Biaggi, blaming Honda for him having to leave MotoGP...always someone elses fault, never his own

[MadKaw]

Heres the entry list.. Note one of the Kawis is TBA.
and what the hell is permanent provisional..??


SBK 2006 Permanent Provisional Entry List
Today
Superbike World Championship N. Start Rider Nat. Motorcycle Team Name
1 1 Troy Corser AUS Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra
2 3 Norick Abe JPN Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor France -IPONE
3 7 Pierfrancesco Chili ITA Honda CBR 1000RR D.F.X. Treme
4 8 Ivan Clementi ITA Ducati 999 RS Team Pedercini
5 9 Chris Walker GBR Kawasaki ZX10R PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse
6 10 TBA Kawasaki ZX10R PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse
7 11 Ruben Xaus ESP Ducati 999F05 Sterilgarda -Berik
8 13 Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 Celani Team
9 15 Fabien Foret FRA Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra
10 16 Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor France -IPONE
11 18 Craig Jones GBR PETRONAS FP1 Foggy PETRONAS Racing
12 19 Lucio Pedercini ITA Ducati 999 RS Team Pedercini
13 20 Marco Borciani ITA Ducati 999F05 Sterilgarda -Berik
14 21 Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati 999F06 Ducati Xerox Team
15 22 Shinichi Nakatomi JPN Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor France -IPONE
16 31 Karl Muggeridge AUS Honda CBR 1000RR Winston Ten Kate Honda
17 41 Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team
18 44 Roberto Rolfo ITA Ducati 999F05 Team Ducati SC -Caracchi
19 52 James Toseland GBR Honda CBR 1000RR Winston Ten Kate Honda
20 55 Regis Laconi FRA Kawasaki ZX10R PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse 2
21 57 Lorenzo Lanzi ITA Ducati 999F06 Ducati Xerox Team
22 71 Yukio Kagayama JPN Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra
23 76 Max Neukirchner GER Honda CBR 1000RR Team Klaffi Honda
24 84 Michel Fabrizio ITA Honda CBR 1000RR D.F.X. Treme
25 88 Andrew Pitt AUS Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team
26 99 Steve Martin AUS PETRONAS FP1 Foggy PETRONAS Racing
27 105 Lorenzo Alfonsi ITA Ducati 999F04 Team PN Corse
28 116 Franco Battaini ITA Kawasaki ZX10R Team Bertocchi
29 TBA Honda CBR 1000RR Team Klaffi Honda
30 TBA Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra

[aardvark]

I read this news elsewhere, but in a format that made far more sense. It appears that Biaggi is looking at either:
a) WSBK; or
b) Still in talks with Kawasaki for a MotoGP ride.

As much as I dislike the tosser, I reckon his book would be worth a read.

Here's the report:
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.

[sneakypete]

i also heard that he may be going to Suzuki (please!!), cant remember where i saw it tho'. but notice that the Suzuki has a TBA also....

[Neka79]

i also heard that he may be going to Suzuki (please!!), cant remember where i saw it tho'. but notice that the Suzuki has a TBA also....

so does klaffi honda...lol...

yea max, honda didnt cause u to leave gp...10 yrs of shit results did!!

[sneakypete]

yea max, honda didnt cause u to leave gp...10 yrs of shit results did!!

[Nanna10r]

Wasn't his results that cause honda to drop him it was "The Blame shifting" he's the world champ at.
I hope he does get a ride with kwika & i hope he does shut up & race. Maybe motivation to get back to the Big game of motogp may be some motivation. Kwika could & did do a lot worse last year in the Superbikes with only Chris Walker showing the Hootspa to push the crim to be compeditive.
Be interesting year for Bayliss back on a sbk Fugatti & i recon young Lorenzo Lanzi will ruffle some feathers with the old stagers.
cheers Brett .
I recon Max' book would be a good read, I like a good comedy.

[red_dave]

I read this news elsewhere, but in a format that made far more sense. It appears that Biaggi is looking at either:
a) WSBK; or
b) Still in talks with Kawasaki for a MotoGP ride.

That's how i read it too...

[Phil]

and what the hell is permanent provisional..??

not including wild cards and subject to change

[Neka79]

and what the hell is permanent provisional..??

subject to change

unlike max...

[redzedx7r]

according to superbike planet which was quoting the BBC (max lives in London) massimo has signed with Alstare Suzuki

[greenmeanie]

According to crash.net :

Biaggi set for fourth Alstare Corona Suzuki.



Max Biaggi's conversion to superbike rider appears set to be completed with a move to the champion Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team that took Troy Coser to the 2005 WSBK title.

While news of the Italian's code switch comes as no surprise, his destination for the coming season is moreso, especially given that he ws expected to be helped in his move by long-time personal backer Japan Tobacco. The Suzuki team, however, rides in direct competition with the Ten Kate squad that enjoys support from JTI brand Winston.

The first hint that Biaggi could link up with Corser this year came when the FIM issued an initial draft of the 2006 entry list, complete with a fourth vacancy at Francois Batta's squad, alongside those at Klaffi Honda and Kawasaki Corse.

Now, Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta de la Sport claims that a deal has been struck between Batta and Biaggi, which will see the 'Roman Emperor' turning his first superbike wheel at the impending Australian test session next week.

The move comes as something of a surprise as Biaggi had always maintained that he would have nothing to do with superbikes, but the Italian has since been pushed into something of a corner following Honda's refusal to support him in MotoGP. Although possible tie-ups with otehr teams, including Kawasaki, were mooted before the end of 2005, nothing came to fruition until Blatta beckoned.

Biaggi is expected at Phillip Island ahead of the test, in order to get used to his new team, before linking up with 2006 team-mates Corser, Yukio Kagayama and Fabien Foret to prepare for the opening round of the season, in Qatar, in late February.

According to the reports, Biaggi will run with the number 30 on his bike this year, as his traditional #3 plate has already been allocated to another MotoGP convert, Norick Abe.

Biaggi joins Troy Bayliss, Roberto Rolfo and Ruben Xaus have already made the move from MotoGP to WSBK for this season, while Alex Barros is tipped to fill the vacant Klaffi Honda seat.

[Gosling1]

I can see the headlines now........." I tried so hard, but the Suzuki just does not make the competitive horsepower that I need........."

Leopards do not change their spots......he will do nothing but bitch ...even though he is on *arguably* the best bike in the paddock.......

[redzedx7r]

I can just see it now Matt Mladin (not known for his subtlty or diplomacy) smacking Massimo over the scone cause he is holding him up at the island during testing.
Max will need to brush up on his excuses and tears when Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama kick his arse around the WSBK paddock this year.
The guy will not be able to cut it in Superbikes he cant slide, but he wont be alone there will be other paidforrides duds to join him Alex, Fonzi, Ruben, Norick (although in Xaus defence he does speckkie crashes) Charlie chucker might even buy the last PSG-1 Kwaka.
I cant wait for this season in WSBK some real competition loaded with talented riders other than the aforementioned duds on competitive bikes.