Musical chairs

**denill** · 19th October 2007, 12:02

www.superbikeplanet.com

Biaggi: Where Now?
by dean adams
Thursday, October 18, 2007

This morning's not terribly unexpected announcement from Alstare Suzuki that they will not be working with Max Biaggi in 2008 brings with it an interesting question. Where now for Biaggi?

It would seem most of the good WSBK slots are full for 2008. Does this mean Biaggi will return to MotoGP? Biaggi to Kawasaki rumors have run rampant all Summer.

Biaggi on a customer Ducati in WSBK is where some feel he will end up. Biaggi could certainly drum up the money in Italy to run such an effort but one has to wonder if team ownership is a role Max is interested in.

**James Deuce** · 19th October 2007, 12:34

Gresini Honda are talking with Biaggi at the moment.

**denill** · 25th October 2007, 17:56

UPDATE: WSBK:
Last Minute Problems Halt Biaggi-GSE Deal
Written by: Dennis Noyes

Borrego Springs, CA – 10/24/2007
Max Biaggi

Word from Ducati Corse is that the plans to put Max Biaggi on a works-supported Ducati with the GSE squad have been abandoned. The Italian source of the original story linking Biaggi to the GSE team of Great Britain says that the problem is due to a conflict of interest that would make it impossible for Darrell Healey, owner of the GSE team, to field a team in opposition to the factory team of Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio. Healey is the personal manager of Troy Bayliss.

Efforts are now being made to place Biaggi in the Sterilgarda Ducati team owned by Marco Borciani. At present the Borciani team has signed Spaniard Rubén Xaus who will have a factory supported Ducati 1098R.

Further developments are expected during the next 24 hours.

The following is the original story: - posted prior to the last-minute halt to what would have been a blockbuster shakeup in both the World Superbike and British Superbike championships:

SpeedTV.com has learned from reliable Italian sources that Max Biaggi, 36, will return to the World Superbike Championship in 2008 riding a works-supported Ducati for the British GSE Ducati team.

The GSE Airwaves team announced on October 15th that it was pulling out of the British Superbike Championship because the new BSB technical regulations will not allow Ducati to change the pistons of the 1098R (expected to displace 1198cc). GSE team owner Darrell Healey (who is also the personal manager of two times World SBK Champion Troy Bayliss) was told by the Ducati factory that the bike could only be raced with the replacement pistons as allowed under more permissive World Superbike regulations.

When Honda HRC told Fausto Gresini that they did not support his intention to sign Biaggi to ride for the Italian team on an RC212V in MotoGP, conversations between Ducati Corse, GSE, and Max Biaggi were initiated by World Superbike promoters FGSport.

No other details are available at this time, but Biaggi has agreed to ride for GSE. Ducati Corse will supply the British-based team with two factory machines with the same Magneti Marelli electronics supplied to the works Ducati Xerox team of Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio.

Biaggi, a four times World 250 champion, has scored a total of 45 wins at the world championship level, 29 in 250, 13 in 500/MotoGP, and three in his first season of WSBK. The Roman has made 128 podium appearances, and, in addition to the four 250 titles, he has finished runner-up three times in 500/MotoGP, third three times in 500/MotoGP, and was third in his first year in SBK.

Biaggi made the adjustment from MotoGP to World Superbike in 2007, winning three races and making a championship-leading 17 podium appearances for the Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki team. Despite the successful series debut, Biaggi and team owner Francis Batta were unable to reach an agreement for 2008.

Biaggi left the HRC Repsol Honda team at the end of the 2005 season and HRC then refused to supply the Camel Honda Pons team with machines for Biaggi in 2006. As a result Camel moved their sponsorship to the Yamaha factory team and Team Pons, one of the most successful private teams in Grand Prix history, was forced to retire because without the Italian superstar the team was unable to find a major sponsor.

Biaggi had many offers from MotoGP teams for 2006, but for one reason or another (probably because the other Japanese factories joined Honda in boycotting the rider who was openly critical of HRC) none of the MotoGP teams were able to obtain bikes for the Italian.

Biaggi’s teammate may be Leon Camier, 21, who broke his femur and pelvis in a crash at Cadwell Park toward the end of the season. In spite of missing the final six races of the season, Camier finished eighth in his rookie BSB Superbike season.

The two riders who took the Airwaves Ducati team to third and fourth in this year’s BSB, Leon Haslam and Gregorio Lavilla, are currently without teams. Haslam is expected to join the HM Plant Honda team for the British series, while Lavilla is talking to the PSG-1 Kawasaki team in World Superbike and with undisclosed teams in the BSB.

At present the top seven World Superbike teams are complete:

Ten Kate Honda: Carlos Checa and Ryuichi Kiyonari
Santander Yamaha: Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser
Alstare Suzuki: Yukio Kagayama, Fonsi Nieto and Max Neukirchner
Ducati Xerox: Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio
GSE Ducati: Max Biaggi and, probably, Leon Camier
Sterilgarda Ducati: Rubén Xaus and, possibly, Lorenzo Lanzi
PSG-1 Kawasaki: Regis Laconi and a second rider to be confirmed, possibly Alex Barros, unless the Brazilian retires

**denill** · 26th October 2007, 06:44

The following is from Gresini Honda...

Fausto Gresini and Shinya Nakano are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement for the 2008 season. The experienced Japanese rider, Shinya Nakano, 30 years old, along side the Italian Alex De Angelis, 23 years old, at his debut on Motogp, complete the Gresini Honda riders line up.

Fausto Gresini: "I'm happy to announce Shinya Nakano, that together with Alex De Angels will be the colour bearer of out team on a Honda RC212v with Bridgestone tyres. Shinya is a rider with a great potential, so far expressed only in part. We strongly believe in him as also Honda HRC and Bridgestone do. We have signed with the Japanese rider a one year contract with an option. We will start to prepare the new season immediately after the Valencia GP in an important session where our riders can start to get confidence with the Honda rc212v with Bridgestone tyres.

Shinya Nakano: it's my pleasure to work with the Honda Gresini Team. I know Fausto, he was a rider before becoming a Team Manager and he has worked very well with Honda HRC for many years. I will be pleased to learn something from the team and to work with my new team mate Alex de Angelis. I believe we can have a good season together. I also look forward to work with Bridgestone tyres as well, I have good memories with them".

**Cleve** · 26th October 2007, 13:06

Nakano at Gresini. With a Japanese rider next year it might mean they get better parts than this year from HRC.

**denill** · 26th October 2007, 17:01

Elias to Ride Pramac D’Antin Ducati Next Season

The Pramac-Dantin Team and Toni Elias have reached an agreement that sees both parties committed to working together next year.

The young pilot of 24 years, native of Manresa, already has nine years of experience racing in the World Championship, and for the 2008 season he will ride a Ducati GP8 for the Pramac-Dantin Team.

Toni Elías began his professional career in 1998 racing a 125cc in the Spanish Championship, and after only one year jumped directly to the mecca of motorcycling, the MotoGP World Championship. During his three years in the eighth liter class, Elias obtained several victories and pole-positions, demonstrating that despite his youth he was able to fight with the best riders of that day. From 2002, when he moved up into the 250cc category, he proved himself to be a very fast and consistent rider, competing in the top group from his very first season. In his three years riding 250's, he was able to fight for the Championship and achieved 20 podiums. In 2005 Elias took his first steps in the MotoGP class, thus far notching 3 podiums and a breathtaking, breakthrough win in 2006 at the Gran Prix of Portugal.

The Pramac-Dantin Team will charge into 2008 with two young, fierce, and competitive pilots: TONI ELIAS and SYLVAIN GUINTOLI.

**denill** · 30th October 2007, 13:01

Read somwhere that the KR will be Ducati powered in '08.
It won't make a lot of difference what powers it if Kurtis is riding it.

So what DID REALLY happen to Kenny - the chip of the old man's block, who went AWOL during the season??

Anyone know??

**roogazza** · 30th October 2007, 15:55

Dad probably told him to pull his finger out !
From what I've heard, Dad swears a lot, so you could imagine ???? Gaz.

**BarryG** · 31st October 2007, 07:39

Officially "If I can't be competitive, I'm not risking my neck to finish last", so dad said take a break, we'll get Kurtis on it. To be fair, it really does seem to be the bike, not the rider(s), this year, and must have been hugely frustrating for everyone after being at the sharp end a lot last year.

If KR does get Duc motors (unlikley by the sound of it with them having the factory team and the satellite team to supply stuff to) I'd have to wonder if either of the kids would be back, he may get someone who will give it a bit less science and a lot more thoughtful passion. I'm not sure who KR rates, it'll have to be someone who won't be cowed by the Roberts manner but will take full advantage of his forcefulness.
Cheers
Barry

**Cajun** · 31st October 2007, 14:03

Italian Max Biaggi signed with the Sterilgarda Ducati team this afternoon, insuring that Biaggi will be in the '07 WSBK championship.

The Sterilgarda team ran Ruben Xaus, Marco Borciani (and for a brief period, Giovanni Bussei) in 2007 and their bikes were among the fastest in terms of top speed at the ultra-fast Monza.

Biaggi says he is happy to finally be on a Ducati and looks forward to testing.

**denill** · 1st November 2007, 06:04

Originally Posted by Cajun

Italian Max Biaggi signed with the Sterilgarda Ducati team this afternoon, insuring that Biaggi will be in the '07 WSBK championship.

The Sterilgarda team ran Ruben Xaus, Marco Borciani (and for a brief period, Giovanni Bussei) in 2007 and their bikes were among the fastest in terms of top speed at the ultra-fast Monza.

Biaggi says he is happy to finally be on a Ducati and looks forward to testing.

And a bit more on the Max subject:

Max Biaggi will stay in World Superbike after being denied the opportunity to ride on a Honda satellite team in the MotoGP World Championship.

The Italian, who was let go by the Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team at the end of the World Superbike season, has signed a deal to ride for Team Sterilgarda Ducati. The team, which ran Ruben Xaus this year, will expand to two riders in 2008.

In a posting on his website, Biaggi said, "It seems me a good opportunity, the team has guaranteed that we will have high-level technicians, the structure is growing considering that next year we will be two pilots. Unfortunately we won't be testing at the end of November in Qatar, but we hope to be on track within the first week of December in Vallelunga or Valencia. I am motivated for this new adventure and then…ride a Ducati is always been my dream!"

Biaggi returns to the World Superbike paddock after Honda refused to let him join one of their MotoGP satellite teams. Biaggi was hoping to return to MotoGP with the Gresini Honda team, but senior Honda officials made it clear that the rift that developed after the 2005 season hadn't healed and that he would not be welcomed back.

**BarryG** · 1st November 2007, 06:32

Doesn't say whether Xaus will be re-signed. I think Rueben would be pretty likely to ignore Max on the same team, he seems to be pretty self-believing. I just wonder if Max won't require too much attention. He seems to need the setup to be closer to perfect than a lot of racers, and if it's not, doesn't seem to ride around it. Xaus seems to just hop on and go - not that he doesn't bin it more than most! He was the only 'non-works' rider to take a WSB leg this season, I think.
Someone made the observation that when Ducati let him (Xaus) go, the carbon shop went back on to single shift!
Max on a Duc could be fun.
Cheers
Barry

**denill** · 1st November 2007, 07:23

Originally Posted by BarryG

Doesn't say whether Xaus will be re-signed. I think Rueben would be pretty likely to ignore Max on the same team, he seems to be pretty self-believing. I just wonder if Max won't require too much attention. He seems to need the setup to be closer to perfect than a lot of racers, and if it's not, doesn't seem to ride around it. Xaus seems to just hop on and go - not that he doesn't bin it more than most! He was the only 'non-works' rider to take a WSB leg this season, I think.
Someone made the observation that when Ducati let him (Xaus) go, the carbon shop went back on to single shift!
Max on a Duc could be fun.
Cheers
Barry

Well said Barry. Have to concur with all the above. (Like the bit about the single shift.)

**roogazza** · 1st November 2007, 07:56

Being a bit of a Rossi fan my partner has just bought me my second book on Vale. In one of the chapters it discusses the different styles and needs of his oposition. Biaggi does seem to need things more finely set up but in saying that so does Vale, as compared to Sir Mick , who didn't mind riding around things if they weren't quite spot on. Gaz.