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Max Biaggi

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Max Biaggi
Biaggi in 2007
NationalityItalian
Born (1971-06-26) 26 June 1971 (age 53)
Rome, Italy
Websitemax-biaggi.com
Motorcycle racing career statistics
MotoGP World Championship
Active years1998–2005
ManufacturersHonda (1998, 2003–2005)
Yamaha (1999–2002)
Championships0
2005 championship position5th (173 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
127 13 58 23 14 1624
250cc World Championship
Active years1991–1997
ManufacturersAprilia (1991–1992, 1994–1996)
Honda (1993, 1997)
Championships4 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
1997 championship position1st (250 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
87 29 53 33 28 1268
Superbike World Championship
Active years2007–2012, 2015
ManufacturersSuzuki (2007)
Ducati (2008)
Aprilia (2009–2012, 2015)
Championships2 (2010, 2012)
2015 championship position20th (36 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
159 21 71 5 18 2102

Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmaks ˈbjaddʒi]; born 26 June 1971)[1][2] is an Italian former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who achieved six World Championships. With four 250 cc road race titles and two in World Superbikes, he is one of only two riders to score championships across both disciplines.[3]

Biaggi is a brand ambassador for Aprilia motorcycles.[4] Since 2019, he has owned a Moto3 racing team, based in Monaco.[5][6]

In 2020, Biaggi was named a FIM Road Racing Legend,[7] followed by inductance into the MotoGP Hall of Fame in 2022.[3]

Career

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Summarised race history

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Biaggi is a 13-time Premier Class race winner. He is a 4-time 250 cc World Champion, 2-time World Superbike Champion and 3-time runner-up in the Premier Class in 1998, 2001 and 2002.

After winning 4 consecutive 250 cc titles in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 Biaggi moved to the 500 cc class in 1998 and immediately finished runner-up to Mick Doohan with 2 victories with Honda. This earned him a move to the Factory Yamaha Team in 1999. In his 4 seasons with Yamaha Biaggi collected 8 victories and finished runner-up to Valentino Rossi in 2001 and 2002. Then he moved to Camel Honda in 2003. But only managed third place in the championship in 2003 and 2004 beaten by not only Valentino Rossi but also Gresini Honda rider Sete Gibernau. A sole winless season followed in 2005 with Factory Honda Team and Biaggi was replaced by Dani Pedrosa for 2006 even though he got 4 podiums and a 5th place in the championship. This proved to be Biaggi's final season in MotoGP.

In 2007 Biaggi switched to the Superbike World Championship finishing third overall as a rookie and earned his first Superbike World Championship in 2010 becoming only the second European from outside the United Kingdom after Raymond Roche to do so.[8] After winning a second Superbike World Championship in 2012 at the age of 41, Biaggi retired from racing. But he came back in 2015 in Malaysia as a wildcard to get a podium at the age of 44.

A consistent rider, In all of his 8 seasons with MotoGP/500 cc Biaggi finished inside the top 5 in the championship standings and 3 times as championship runner-up in 1998, 2001 and 2002. Winning a race for 7 consecutive seasons in the Premier Class from 1998 to 2004. Biaggi's 13 wins, 58 podiums and 23 Pole Positions in the Premier Class makes him one of the most accomplished riders to not win the MotoGP World Championship.

125cc World Championship

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Biaggi was more interested in football as a child. But in 1989, after he was given a motorcycle for his seventeenth birthday, he began his racing career in the 125cc class at age eighteen. In 1990 he won the Italian Sport Production Championship. Following his success in 125cc, Biaggi moved up to the 250cc class.

250cc World Championship

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In 1991, Biaggi finished second behind British rider Woolsey Coulter in the European 250cc championship on an Aprilia RS250, and that same year he finished twenty-seventh in the Grand Prix motorcycle 250cc world championship riding for the same manufacturer. In 1992, Biaggi completed his first entire season in 250cc Grand Prix for Aprilia, and finished the season fifth overall. In that same season he took his first victory in Kyalami, South Africa. The following season, Biaggi joined Honda, and finished fourth in the championship standings, including a single victory in Barcelona. In 1994 he returned to Aprilia and dominated the 250cc Grand Prix class by winning three consecutive world championships in 1994, 1995 and 1996. In 1997, Biaggi again returned to Honda, riding for Erv Kanemoto's team, and won his fourth consecutive title. Following that, he moved up to the 500cc class.

500cc World Championship

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Biaggi made an impressive start in his 500cc debut, qualifying on pole, setting the fastest lap and winning his first race in the 1998 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix at Suzuka, riding for the Kanemoto Honda team. He was also victorious at the Czech Republic Grand Prix, where he almost crashed when he accidentally did a 90° wheelie,[9] and finished the season in second place behind Mick Doohan. Biaggi then joined Yamaha to battle against the dominant Hondas. He finished fourth in 1999, third in 2000, and second in 2001.

MotoGP World Championship

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Biaggi with Repsol Honda in 2005

In 2002, Biaggi rode the four-stroke for the first time as development on the new motorcycle remained strong throughout the season. He won in Brno, Czech Republic[10] and Sepang, Malaysia[11] to clinch runner-up in the championship behind rival Valentino Rossi. In 2003, Biaggi finished third in the MotoGP championship after rejoining Honda on the Camel Pramac Pons team and won races in Pacific Grand Prix[12] and Great Britain after Rossi penalised.[13] It was expected that Biaggi would be one of the main candidates for the title in 2004. He won in Germany[14] but a crash in Estoril saw his season begin to fade.[15] At the end of the 2004 MotoGP season Biaggi finished the championship in third place, behind Sete Gibernau and series winner, Rossi.

Biaggi started the 2005 MotoGP season as an official factory Honda rider, joining American racer Nicky Hayden on the Repsol Honda Team with technical director Erv Kanemoto. It was hoped that continued cooperation with Kanemoto and the full factory support from Honda would make Biaggi one of the main title contenders in 2005. However, Biaggi finished the season in only fifth place.

Biaggi lost his ride for the 2006 season, his position filled by 2005 250cc Grand Prix champion, Dani Pedrosa. He negotiated with Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki, however, was unable to land a contract even with the backing of major tobacco sponsor Camel who ended up signing up to be the factory Yamaha squad's title sponsor for 2006. On 10 January 2006, Biaggi posted on his website that he would not take part in the 2006 MotoGP season.

Superbike World Championship

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Biaggi at WK SBK Assen 2007

Biaggi attempted to reach an agreement to race the Superbike World Championship for Corona Alstare Suzuki in 2006, but the team could not commit to equal equipment with their existing riders, 2005 champion Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama. As a result, he took a sabbatical, but on 14 September 2006 Biaggi announced he had signed to replace Corser in the team for 2007.

Biaggi began the season by winning the first race at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and finishing second in race two. In doing so Max Biaggi became one of only five men to win their first Superbike World Championship race, and the only rider ever to win his first Superbike race and his first race in 500cc Grand Prix. He then finished 3rd and 4th at Phillip Island, Australia.

After a hard championship Biaggi finished third, behind World Champion James Toseland and Yamaha top rider Noriyuki Haga.

At the end of the season, Francis Batta, Alstare Suzuki Racing Team director, was forced to release Biaggi, due to the loss of the main sponsor Corona Extra, as they could not reach financial agreement. Furthermore, Suzuki decided to stop official Superbike development for 2008, instead focusing on the MotoGP championship. For 2008 Biaggi replaced team manager Marco Borciani as a rider at his Team Sterilgarda/Go Eleven, riding a satellite-works Ducati 1098RS alongside Ruben Xaus.[16] He finished seventh overall with seven podiums, three places ahead of Xaus and one ahead of factory Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio.

For 2009 he joined the returning factory Aprilia team. He took a double podium in round 2 at Qatar, and scored solid points before taking their first win since the return at Brno, after race leaders Fabrizio and Ben Spies collided. He finished a close second behind Spies in race two there, and finished the season 4th overall.

Biaggi riding the RSV4 in 2011

Biaggi continued with Aprilia for 2010, taking a double victory at the team's home race at Monza to move up to second in the standings. Another double in the USA gave him first place in the championship, after previous leader Leon Haslam failed to finish in race 2.[17]

In August 2010, Biaggi signed a renewed, two-year contract with Aprilia to remain with the team in World Superbikes until 2012.[18]

In 2010, Biaggi became Aprilia's and Italy's first Superbike World Champion.[8]

2011 was a year of mixed results for Biaggi and Aprilia. He only managed 2 wins at Aragon, Spain and Brno, Czech Republic. Even though he was in contention for the title due to multiple second-place finishes, Biaggi fractured his left foot in Germany which caused him to miss 2 rounds: Imola and Magny Cours.[19] Biaggi ended the 2011 season in third place (303 points) and tied in points with Eugene Laverty.[20] Biaggi would go on to win the 2012 title by only a half point over Tom Sykes. Following the season, Biaggi retired from racing. Three years later, Biaggi would briefly return to racing as a wildcard for Aprilia.[21]

Personal life

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Biaggi is known as the 'Roman Emperor' and 'Mad Max' and is notorious for his difficult relationships with the press, team personnel and other riders.[22][23][24][25]

He was engaged to Miss Italia 2002 winner and TV personality Eleonora Pedron; together they have a daughter and a son.[26] They split in September 2015.[27]

Career statistics

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Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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By season

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All stats according to MotoGP.com[28]

Season Class Motorcycle Team Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
1991 250cc Aprilia RSV250 4 0 0 0 0 7 27th
1992 250cc Aprilia RSV250 Telkor Valesi Racing 12 1 5 4 1 78 5th
1993 250cc Honda NSR250 Rothmans Kanemoto 14 1 5 2 1 142 4th
1994 250cc Aprilia RSV250 Chesterfield Aprilia 14 5 10 7 8 234 1st
1995 250cc Aprilia RSV250 Chesterfield Aprilia 13 8 12 9 7 283 1st
1996 250cc Aprilia RSV250 Chesterfield Aprilia 15 9 11 8 9 274 1st
1997 250cc Honda NSR250 Marlboro Kanemoto 15 5 10 3 2 250 1st
1998 500cc Honda NSR500 Marlboro Kanemoto 14 2 8 2 2 208 2nd
1999 500cc Yamaha YZR500 Marlboro Yamaha 16 1 7 1 1 194 4th
2000 500cc Yamaha YZR500 Marlboro Yamaha 16 2 4 5 3 170 3rd
2001 500cc Yamaha YZR500 Marlboro Yamaha 16 3 9 7 2 219 2nd
2002 MotoGP Yamaha YZR-M1 Marlboro Yamaha 16 2 8 4 1 215 2nd
2003 MotoGP Honda RC211V Camel Pramac Pons 16 2 9 3 1 228 3rd
2004 MotoGP Honda RC211V Camel Honda 16 1 9 1 3 217 3rd
2005 MotoGP Honda RC211V Repsol Honda 17 0 4 0 1 173 5th
Total 214 42 111 56 42 2892

Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos Pts
1991 250cc Aprilia JPN
 AUS
 USA
 SPA
 ITA
 GER
 AUT
 EUR
Ret 		NED
 FRA
13 		GBR
Ret 		RSM
12 		CZE
 VDM
 MAL
 27th 7
1992 250cc Aprilia JPN
Ret 		AUS
8 		MAL
Ret 		SPA
10 		ITA
3 		EUR
3 		GER
2 		NED
Ret 		HUN
Ret 		FRA
DNS 		GBR
Ret 		BRA
2 		RSA
1 		5th 78
1993 250cc Honda AUS
3 		MAL
17 		JPN
Ret 		SPA
2 		AUT
5 		GER
4 		NED
Ret 		EUR
1 		RSM
5 		GBR
6 		CZE
2 		ITA
Ret 		USA
Ret 		FIM
3 		4th 142
1994 250cc Aprilia AUS
1 		MAL
1 		JPN
4 		SPA
Ret 		AUT
2 		GER
2 		NED
1 		ITA
Ret 		FRA
3 		GBR
Ret 		CZE
1 		USA
2 		ARG
2 		EUR
1 		1st 234
1995 250cc Aprilia AUS
3 		MAL
1 		JPN
9 		SPA
2 		GER
1 		ITA
1 		NED
1 		FRA
2 		GBR
1 		CZE
1 		BRA
2 		ARG
1 		EUR
1 		1st 283
1996 250cc Aprilia MAL
1 		INA
2 		JPN
1 		SPA
1 		ITA
1 		FRA
1 		NED
3 		GER
4 		GBR
1 		AUT
Ret 		CZE
1 		IMO
Ret 		CAT
1 		BRA
Ret 		AUS
1 		1st 274
1997 250cc Honda MAL
1 		JPN
7 		SPA
3 		ITA
1 		AUT
3 		FRA
2 		NED
DSQ 		IMO
1 		GER
4 		BRA
5 		GBR
Ret 		CZE
1 		CAT
2 		INA
1 		AUS
2 		1st 250
1998 500cc Honda JPN
1 		MAL
3 		SPA
3 		ITA
2 		FRA
5 		MAD
6 		NED
2 		GBR
6 		GER
2 		CZE
1 		IMO
3 		CAT
DSQ 		AUS
8 		ARG
5 		2nd 208
1999 500cc Yamaha MAL
Ret 		JPN
9 		SPA
2 		FRA
Ret 		ITA
2 		CAT
Ret 		NED
5 		GBR
4 		GER
Ret 		CZE
4 		IMO
3 		VAL
7 		AUS
2 		RSA
1 		BRA
2 		ARG
2 		4th 194
2000 500cc Yamaha RSA
Ret 		MAL
4 		JPN
Ret 		SPA
Ret 		FRA
Ret 		ITA
9 		CAT
5 		NED
4 		GBR
9 		GER
4 		CZE
1 		POR
4 		VAL
3 		BRA
5 		PAC
3 		AUS
1 		3rd 170
2001 500cc Yamaha JPN
3 		RSA
8 		SPA
11 		FRA
1 		ITA
3 		CAT
2 		NED
1 		GBR
2 		GER
1 		CZE
10 		POR
5 		VAL
10 		PAC
Ret 		AUS
2 		MAL
Ret 		BRA
3 		2nd 219
2002 MotoGP Yamaha JPN
Ret 		RSA
9 		SPA
DSQ 		FRA
3 		ITA
2 		CAT
4 		NED
4 		GBR
2 		GER
2 		CZE
1 		POR
6 		BRA
2 		PAC
Ret 		MAL
1 		AUS
6 		VAL
3 		2nd 215
2003 MotoGP Honda JPN
2 		RSA
3 		SPA
2 		FRA
5 		ITA
3 		CAT
14 		NED
2 		GBR
1 		GER
Ret 		CZE
5 		POR
2 		BRA
4 		PAC
1 		MAL
3 		AUS
17 		VAL
4 		3rd 228
2004 MotoGP Honda RSA
2 		SPA
2 		FRA
3 		ITA
3 		CAT
8 		NED
4 		BRA
2 		GER
1 		GBR
12 		CZE
3 		POR
Ret 		JPN
Ret 		QAT
6 		MAL
2 		AUS
7 		VAL
2 		3rd 217
2005 MotoGP Honda SPA
7 		POR
3 		CHN
5 		FRA
5 		ITA
2 		CAT
6 		NED
6 		USA
4 		GBR
Ret 		GER
4 		CZE
3 		JPN
2 		MAL
6 		QAT
Ret 		AUS
Ret 		TUR
12 		VAL
6 		5th 173

Superbike World Championship

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By season

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Season Class Motorcycle Team Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
2007 SBK Suzuki GSX-R1000 Alstare Suzuki 25 3 17 0 5 397 3rd
2008 SBK Ducati 1098 RS Sterilgarda Go Eleven 28 0 7 0 1 238 7th
2009 SBK Aprilia RSV4 Aprilia Racing 28 1 9 0 1 319 4th
2010 SBK Aprilia RSV4 Aprilia Alitalia Racing 26 10 14 4 2 451 1st
2011 SBK Aprilia RSV4 Aprilia Alitalia Racing 21 2 12 4 5 303 3rd
2012 SBK Aprilia RSV4 Aprilia Racing 27 5 11 2 5 358 1st
2015 SBK Aprilia RSV4 Aprilia Racing 4 0 1 0 0 36 20th
Total 157 21 71 10 19 2102

Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2007 Suzuki QAT
1 		QAT
2 		AUS
3 		AUS
4 		EUR
3 		EUR
2 		SPA
8 		SPA
2 		NED
6 		NED
3 		ITA
3 		ITA
5 		GBR
6 		GBR
C 		SMR
Ret 		SMR
3 		CZE
2 		CZE
1 		GBR
3 		GBR
8 		GER
2 		GER
3 		ITA
1 		ITA
2 		FRA
6 		FRA
2 		3rd 397
2008 Ducati QAT
2 		QAT
3 		AUS
Ret 		AUS
Ret 		SPA
16 		SPA
8 		NED
10 		NED
12 		ITA
5 		ITA
Ret 		USA
9 		USA
4 		GER
13 		GER
7 		SMR
Ret 		SMR
2 		CZE
4 		CZE
3 		GBR
3 		GBR
12 		EUR
3 		EUR
6 		ITA
2 		ITA
Ret 		FRA
4 		FRA
6 		POR
Ret 		POR
13 		7th 238
2009 Aprilia AUS
11 		AUS
15 		QAT
3 		QAT
3 		SPA
8 		SPA
8 		NED
5 		NED
Ret 		ITA
11 		ITA
5 		RSA
5 		RSA
5 		USA
6 		USA
4 		SMR
13 		SMR
10 		GBR
2 		GBR
21 		CZE
1 		CZE
2 		GER
5 		GER
4 		ITA
2 		ITA
4 		FRA
3 		FRA
2 		POR
3 		POR
6 		4th 319
2010 Aprilia AUS
5 		AUS
8 		POR
1 		POR
1 		SPA
2 		SPA
3 		NED
6 		NED
4 		ITA
1 		ITA
1 		RSA
4 		RSA
3 		USA
1 		USA
1 		SMR
1 		SMR
1 		CZE
2 		CZE
1 		GBR
5 		GBR
6 		GER
4 		GER
5 		ITA
11 		ITA
5 		FRA
4 		FRA
1 		1st 451
2011 Aprilia AUS
2 		AUS
2 		EUR
7 		EUR
DSQ 		NED
2 		NED
2 		ITA
2 		ITA
8 		USA
Ret 		USA
3 		SMR
2 		SMR
2 		SPA
2 		SPA
1 		CZE
2 		CZE
1 		GBR
11 		GBR
4 		GER
DNS 		GER
DNS 		ITA ITA FRA FRA POR
4 		POR
7 		3rd 303
2012 Aprilia AUS
1 		AUS
2 		ITA
4 		ITA
4 		NED
4 		NED
8 		ITA
C 		ITA
5 		EUR
5 		EUR
2 		USA
3 		USA
3 		SMR
1 		SMR
1 		SPA
1 		SPA
4 		CZE
6 		CZE
4 		GBR
Ret 		GBR
11 		RUS
3 		RUS
Ret 		GER
1 		GER
13 		POR
4 		POR
3 		FRA
Ret 		FRA
5 		1st 358
2015 Aprilia AUS AUS THA THA SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA GBR GBR POR POR SMR
6 		SMR
6 		USA USA MAL
3 		MAL
Ret 		SPA SPA FRA FRA QAT QAT 20th 36

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Max Biaggi at IMDb
  2. ^ "Max Biaggi Biography", Motorbike Sport, 5 January 2009, retrieved 25 June 2010
  3. ^ a b MotoGP: Max Biaggi inducted into the Hall of Fame at Mugello Motorcycle News, 27 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022
  4. ^ Max Biaggi becomes global ambassador for Aprilia worldsbk.com, 3 August 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2022
  5. ^ Max Racing Team Homepage. Retrieved 28 May 2022
  6. ^ Sterilgarda Max Racing Team present 2019 bike motogp.com, 25 February 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2022
  7. ^ "FIM Awards". fim-awards.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Max the first Italian WSBK Champ".
  9. ^ "Max Biaggi - Best Wheelie save ever - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Biaggi victorious as Rossi gets tyred". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 25 August 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Magnificent Max defeats RCV's at Malaysia". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 13 October 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Biaggi reigns after Motegi mayhem". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 5 October 2003. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Biaggi takes win after Rossi penalised". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 13 July 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Biaggi beats Barros for German GP victory". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 18 July 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Rossi takes clinical Estoril victory". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 5 September 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Biaggi Signs With Sterilgarda Ducati WSBK!". SuperbikePlanet.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  17. ^ Biaggi savours ‘perfect result’ on home soil
  18. ^ "Biaggi signs with Aprilia until 2012". Insidebikes. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  19. ^ "Max Biaggi 2011-2012 Racing Results". GrandPrixRankings.com. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  20. ^ "2011 WorldSBK World Championship Standings". GrandPrixRankings.com. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  21. ^ Guidotti, Maria (19 June 2015). "CW INTERVIEW: MAX BIAGGI". cycleworld.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  22. ^ "Max Biaggi Bio", MotorcycleUSA, 21 January 2008, archived from the original on 19 June 2010, retrieved 25 June 2010
  23. ^ Macauley, Ted (26 June 2001), "Motorcycling: Italian pair take rivalry to the Max", Daily Mirror, London, p. 3, ProQuest 338633065[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ Alonso, Ivan (31 October 2001), "Rossi takes ninth victory of the season in Valencia", Motorsport.com, archived from the original on 7 June 2011, retrieved 25 June 2010
  25. ^ Every, Rob (25 February 2007), "WSBK: Roman Emperor Max Biaggi has landed!", Motorcycle Racing Online, retrieved 25 June 2010
  26. ^ "Congratulations to Max Biaggi!". Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Biaggi-Pedron, è rottura. Max: "Fa male dirlo, è finita"". La Gazzetta Dello Sport - Tutto Il Rosa della Vita.
  28. ^ "Max Biaggi". MotoGP.com. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
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