Max Biaggi staying involved with racing

Despite being officially retired since the end of 2012, Max Biaggi has kept a close eye on the motorcycle racing world. After doing a couple of one-off tests on the Ducati and Aprilia MotoGP bikes, the former world champion has eventually decided to commit officially to the Noale factory as a test rider. During the WSBK private tests in Jerez (Spain), he showed his grit by lapping in the mid 1:42s, about one and half second slower than the fastest riders on track despite the obvious lack of practice, with an unofficial (his bike did not mount a transponder) best lap of 1:41.950 that would have put him in eleventh position.

“We have been working on technical details based on the new regulations, with an eye on 2016,” Biaggi said. “Having a sore shoulder from the Portimão tests last week didn't help (Biaggi crashed on the first day on a wet track), but I'm happy with the results. I'm used to working on seemingly small changes that can make a big difference, but I've just been trying to get back in the swing of things. As you get closer to the top, you start having fun. Let's just say that I'm savoring that state approaching.”

Biaggi, however, will not focus solely on Aprilia's WSBK project. Though no official tests have been scheduled yet, he made himself available to develop the RS-GP MotoGP project as well. “I didn't want to be the one saying it, but I'm the contracted tester for both MotoGP and Superbike. Michael (Laverty) is on call, but the decision not to test the RS-GP next week in Sepang was mine. It's only a shakedown, and I wouldn't have more than one full day of track time. I prefer to do something more structured.”

“Max will test material on both fronts,” confirmed Paolo Bonora, the head of electronics' development at Aprilia. “First, he needed to shake off rust on the Superbike. In Jerez, we focused on porting the APX2 (proprietary) firmware on the Magneti Marelli ECU (which is mandatory in MotoGP). Of course, we will then need to add the strategies for the pneumatic-valve distribution.”

Meanwhile, Biaggi has shown his usual meticulousness, engaging in lengthy meetings with all the technical staff.

“I take my job seriously and want to do it with honesty. I'm not a young rider who's given an opportunity to prove his worth and does everything to be fast with the risk of not giving an exact feedback. If I'm not sure of something, I leave my ego behind and ask for an extra run to be more precise.”

In the second and last day of tests in Jerez, Biaggi was supposed to run back-to-back tests on factory electronics and the Magneti Marelli ECU, but the comparison was postponed. “Laverty (who only lapped with the Magneti Marelli ECU) first had a technical glitch, then a small crash,” Biaggi explained. “There simply wasn't time, but it doesn't matter as there's still work to be done. Also, the WSBK rules now don't allow for much inventiveness. I've already asked to schedule more tests in Valencia ten days from now, but there are still some logistics issues to be ironed out.”

With Sylvain Guintoli's move to Honda and two riders—Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres—that have no previous experience on the RSV4 in the garage, Aprilia's choice guarantees continuity to the project. After all, no one knows the inside and out of the Noale superbike as well as the six-time world champion.