This week-end, Max Biaggi is on the Mugello side where Aprilia celebrates its party with its legends, its riders and its fans. The Roman Emperor will be on conquered ground, or on a circuit, which will allow him to forget his tax concerns. But the Corsaire is also a team leader involved in the Moto3 world championship. With a Spaniard riding an Austrian KTM all in association with a German. Before embarking on the second Grand Prix of the season in Argentina, he looks back on Qatar which gave him his first podium as boss…
With Max Biaggi this year, a big name returned to the Motorcycle World Championship. The former MotoGP rider and Superbike champion will face the competition with his own team in Moto3. It has already won its first podium in the first race of the season in Qatar, two weeks ago. His protégé Aron Canet finished third.
A success to which biaggi didn't really expect it. “ To be honest, when you start a new project, in the first race it's about coming home with some positives, without thinking too much about victory or defeat“, explains the ex-pilot.
« The rider has to get used to everything, to his team, to the bike... It's good to start like this and continue this momentum for the second race" , Explain biaggi. The performance wasn't just important for the new team. It was also for Canet, who is coming out of a complicated season.
The “Sterilgarda Max Racing Team” was born from a merger with the Moto3 team of Peter Öttl, who acts as team manager. biaggi explain : " I have my own team, but I'm not a team leader, I'm the owner of the team, which is more behind the scenes."
Its beginnings began two years ago. “ We started in the Italian championship because it was easier, our driver was only 14 years old. So he couldn't leave his house and he had to go to school. We started small and we worked hard to enter the Spanish championship " Explain biaggi.
A very demanding category and its level with Moto3 is comparable. An ascent was therefore the logical step. “ It was a great opportunity for me, my team and also for Arón Canet, he wanted to move from Honda to KTM, the deal was done and now we are trying to give him what he needs to show his talent "
Asked about the best personal moment of his racing career, biaggi answers : " The first time we succeeded with Aprilia, in the 250cc category.” At that time, in 1994, the Italian became world champion with him, it was the first title – and the “beginning of an era" , as we say biaggi itself.
Three more times he was middle class world champion, then moved up to the upper class. A playing field marked by its rivalry with Valentino Rossi The latter won the titles, he did not. He later got revenge at the World Superbike Championship, taking two crowns. In 2010 he won the first of two titles – again with Aprilia. This late success surprised biaggi himself: “ I was already 41 years old. It's not the best age for an athlete, I should have stopped, but in this sport everything is possible, look at Rossi, he is still playing at the highest level » Max finishes on motorsport total.
