Max Biaggi announces WSBK return

Max Biaggi will make a sensational return to the World Superbike Championship after he was confirmed to compete at the upcoming Misano and Sepang rounds with Aprilia.

The two-time world champion, who clinched the 2010 and 2012 titles before opting to retire in the wake of his second win, has retained a keen hand in helping Aprilia in its WSBK and MotoGP development, with speculation of a potential wild-card return rife for months.

Indeed, with Sepang revealing it had a two-wheel legend returning to action for its event in July, Aprilia has subsequently confirmed Biaggi is that man, the Italian not only competing in Malaysia but also his home Misano round.

Prior to decision to move into World Superbikes in 2007, he won four consecutive titles in 250cc Grand Prix racing between 1994 and 1997. He went on to finish runner-up in the 500cc class in 1998 and 2001 and well as in MotoGP in 2002.

Biaggi will ride the RSV4 under the Red Devils Roma banner alongside Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres.

He is the second ex-world champion to embark on a surprise return to World Superbike this year after Troy Bayliss rode with Ducati in Australia and Thailand.

WSBK News - Max Biaggi announces WSBK return

seems like a trend beginning with Bayliss. Lets see what he can do

he can be an ..........

but he'll definitely be a competitive ........ The RSV is definitely not short on power, and Guintoli took it to the promise land last year. Haslam is, what? in 3rd place now? So the bike is very competitive. Biaggi may just be the man to help them get back in the limelight that KHI stole so well

and Xavi did great with his return...I hope they give him a ducati next year.

I miss Haga

Biaggi should come over to Moto GP, since we don't have a Colin Edwards, someone else would need to finish next to last every race…

Ah, Mad Max. This should be fun.

krissrock said:

he can be an ..........

but he'll definitely be a competitive ........ The RSV is definitely not short on power, and Guintoli took it to the promise land last year. Haslam is, what? in 3rd place now? So the bike is very competitive. Biaggi may just be the man to help them get back in the limelight that KHI stole so well

and Xavi did great with his return...I hope they give him a ducati next year.

I miss Haga

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I see Canepa's gotten Terol's seat at Althea; he should be up to speed pronto with all the time he's had on the Panigale. Musical chairs in WSBK!

Unreal! Max was fastest in FP1 and FP2!

Misano FP2 results:
1. Max Biaggi ITA Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 1m 35.380s
2. Davide Giugliano ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 35.631s
3. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 35.637s
4. Leon Haslam GBR Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 1m 35.652s
5. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 35.672s
6. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 35.735s
7. Jordi Torres ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 1m 35.966s
8. Leandro Mercado ARG Barni Ducati 1199R 1m 36.015s
9. Alex Lowes GBR Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 36.052s
10. Matteo Baiocco ITA Althea Ducati 1199R 1m 36.096s
11. Sylvain Guintoli FRA PATA Honda CBR1000RR 1m 36.116s
12. Markus Reiterberger GER BMW S1000 RR 1m 36.186s
13. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR 1m 36.510s
14. David Salom ESP Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 36.557s
15. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta F4 RR 1m 36.657s
16. Niccolò Canepa ITA Althea Ducati 1199R 1m 36.796s
17. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Honda CBR1000RR 1m 36.841s
18. Randy de Puniet FRA Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 36.935s
19. Roman Ramos ESP GO Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10R1m 37.230s
20. Luca Scassa ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 37.243s
21. Gianluca Vizziello ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 38.772s
22. Christophe Ponsson FRA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 38.931s
23. Santiago Barragan ESP Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 39.493s
24. Gabor Rizmayer HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR 1m 40.832s
25. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR 1m 43.190s

That is pretty impressive but let's see what he can do for super pole and then there's the race... I'm all for a good battle up front with Rea.

Just shows how fast the rust builds up at that level of racing

It was an interesting dynamic there on the weekend, apparently Haslam and Torres weren't to chuffed with Aprilia for giving Max the ride and it almost looked like he was holding back so as not to take points off the factory riders, until the last race when he took Torres, just sort of tooling around behind them, if that's possible at that level, I may be speaking out my arse as well but it will be interesting to see how he runs in Malaysia.

Doubt he was holding back

Rea looks effortless on the almighty ZX-10R. 2016 version will be one hell of a bike I suspect

Rea has made some incredibly lucky saves on a few races but yes he makes it look pretty easy for the most part.

flobrandx said:

Rea has made some incredibly lucky saves on a few races but yes he makes it look pretty easy for the most part.

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Luck doesn't factor in to the Johnny Rea equation much, he has got that calm smooth style that makes his riding look effortless and like he's on a warm up lap. He is head and shoulders above his own team mate and the rest of the field.
I don't know if he started on the roads, or if he's been a circuit racer from the start, but he always looks like he has something in reserve. One things for sure he is having a season to remember.

centeroff said:

Luck doesn't factor in to the Johnny Rea equation much, he has got that calm smooth style that makes his riding look effortless and like he's on a warm up lap. He is head and shoulders above his own team mate and the rest of the field.
I don't know if he started on the roads, or if he's been a circuit racer from the start, but he always looks like he has something in reserve. One things for sure he is having a season to remember.

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I agree that it's a smooth riding style and skill that's got him to the top but if you've watched all the races there was probably three times that looked like he should have went down. So there is some luck on those saves but that wouldn't chnage him being on top based on the points total to date. The other amazing thing is even with the few errors he has made he can recompose himself and get back to the front in a hurry and on the podium. This is an amazing season that will go down in the books as I see it to continue to be the Rea show.

Rea used to crash quite often, maybe he is just that much better now