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    • AF1 Racing’s Interview with Max Biaggi

    Miller Motorsports Park, Utah - May, 2009

    As representatives of apriliaforum.com, AF1 Racing was invited to sit down with the World Superbike Factory Aprilia rider, Max Biaggi, for a candid interview.  With an oddly relaxed 30 minutes between practice and qualifying, AF1 Racing’s Ed Cook and Steve Barone, and Henry Ray Abrams of Cycle News carried on a leisurely conversation with the motorcycle racing legend.

    Audio Podcast:  http://podcast.af1racing.com/xml.php?feed_id=1063

    Audio Download:  (right click save, 48mb)

    Transcript:

    Barone: It is a great honor, thank you for taking the time to speak to us.

    Biaggi: Alright

    Barone: We are AF1, number one American Dealer for Aprilia;

    Biaggi: Oh, Okay.

    Cook: We run Apriliaforum.com…

    Barone: 30,000 Members… Do you ride personal motorcycle on the street, or a scooter at all?

    Biaggi: No… Yeah, a scooter on the street, a scooter, A vespa. Because it’s easy to go and no so fast, just enjoy moving on the short street, you know. Where I live is very, only 2 km the city.

    Barone: Easy, yeah

    Biaggi: Is narrow and small, I like that.

    Abrams: When you started, did you start riding as a messenger in Rome?

    Biaggi: I did yeah, yes. Like a kind of postal delivery, kind of like that. I did this only for, not because it was my first time on the scooter, but because I needed to find the money to buy my leather suit and all the gear, you know? And my father didn’t really want to support because he saw this sport, as a father, a little bit dangerous. So then I said, “I don’t have any money”, I was only 18 and never worked, only school, so he said if you really want to go ahead just show me how you do and I’ll let you go once, not even twice, once. So I went like 3 months working 9am to 9pm never stopped. In the end I get the money for the gear and I went on to the track.

    Cook: What was your first track like?

    Biaggi: Vallelunga, It was near Rome. It was a, a very nice track.

    Abrams: You’re different from most riders in that you started very late,

    Biaggi: Yes

    Abrams: And you didn’t come from a racing background.

    Biaggi: No, mine was completely unusual start to career. Imagine that when I start the first time of not professional 125 Sport Production the same year Capirossi became world champion 125GP, so and then 2 years after they give me the opportunity to make the one race in Italian, now there is not anymore this race, but they called it the International Italian Race. It was in Vallelunga and they give me a chance to do this on a 125 it was a Honda. Then Capirossi was there, everybody was there from the World Championship and I finished 3rd, I never ride this bike, ever, so I remember I have cramps from moving; it was so narrow and small, but then from that, this was my best business card. Then everybody try to say, “Come with me, Come with me, test this bike,” and I have so many options. And then Aprilia, they smelled like something good on the grill and they give me the contract.

    Cook: And you were close to Beggio to right?

    Biaggi: Well you know that’s, at that time he the president and in many ways the owner, but yeah. Two complete face of Aprilia from now and from ten, fifteen, years ago. Before was much more easier to do things quickly. Now it takes time, and its long… This is a disadvantage, yes, not an advantage, a disadvantage for sure.

    Barone: Do you have opinion of cancellation of 250 Moto GP in favor of Moto2?

    Biaggi: No. No because I never follow because for me is…

    Barone: Not in your interest anymore I guess?

    Biaggi: Not so much, It was just, Well in the way it happened, I don’t know really all the background so it’s better I don’t say anything because I don’t really know 100%, so maybe would be not correct…

    Barone: Yes, I understand.

    Abrams: The 250s were a great stepping stone for you to move upto 500s and then especially MotoGP, right?

    Biaggi: Well at that time the 4 stroke didn’t exist on MotoGP; it [250] was the best tool you could make. But with the entrance of 4 cycle, 4 stroke engine, superbike, supersport become a little bit more easier for people to adapt themselves, while 2 stroke is really another kind of way to go.

    Abrams: But it’s all about corner speed isn’t it? On the…

    Biaggi: I think, on the end of the day any class is a corner speed class, because if you watch, I remember 500 when I was riding Yamaha, they say “Oh Biaggi, corner speed, corner speed.” Rossi was riding the Honda was more going straight and..

    Abrams: Point and shoot.

    Biaggi: … and then over the last five years also Rossi trying to go corner speed because at the time, you can win the time in the corner, not on the straight.

    If you speak with the engineer to make on this track (Miller Motorsports Park) 1/2 second quicker only from engine from one bike to another bike, you need 5 years development, but with the chassis and corner speed, maybe half a year?

    Abrams: Is that why when you were developing the M1 you and Kocinski were on the same path and Checa was…

    Biaggi: Yes. Me and Kocinski were exactly the same way but Carlos was thinking and the bike was ready at the stage that it was after the test we did in 2001. And then we went to race and we were not competitive. And I push with engineer we need this, this, and this. After half year all [parts] came and this was at Brno and we win the race, pole position, and we start to podium constantly, and also some time also Carlos, but at that time it was not ready and he push in the wrong uh, you know, he make them sit, thinking it was enough and then they understand.

    Barone: What do you remember about your first ride on a 500?

    Biaggi: First ride? Oh it was nice and great day. I remember ‘98 Suzuka, that race was amazing. Still one of the most amazing race ever on a motorcycle for me, because when you go 250 winning world championships right away winning, and then move to the top class and win right away with the world champions there, its something unique. Only serenity.

    Abrams: But didn’t Michelin try to talk you out of using the tire?

    Biaggi: No

    Abrams: No? I heard that in practice they said that the tire would not last the whole race.

    Biaggi: No. Well it was not them but on the rumor on the pit and Mamola was the first one to say “Oh…” - I recorded the race and I have his comments of the race and he said,- “For sure Max now he takes and he goes because he use a different compound compared to Mick and Ukada, all the others.” And then he said, “You will see after lap ten from mid-race when the tire start to move around he will lose the time.” But when the tire start to move around I keep my 10 seconds, and I win with 9 seconds. So that was one, it is, one of my strong abilities to feel the tire and to use also softer compound while most of the rest, they can’t. So this is a good thing and I always have this lets say, ‘feel.’ Even from the small class.

    Abrams: You know I asked Erv about that, that’s why. We talked about how Michelin would sometimes say “Oh you can’t use that tire” And they still did that up to last year.

    Biaggi: The school of the years past, ‘98, ‘95 was always to go on the safe tire and spin the tire round and just if you can spin the tire around you can ride. If you have some problem you can’t be fast but this is like a handicap if you want to go fast on the corner speed. And you know Mick also and then he tried to change and go also with little bit softer compound, and then he was fast.

    Barone: How do you decide to come back to Aprilia from all these years?

    Biaggi: Well, it was an opportunity and I have to say it was a brand new project and it’s been testing a while but not that much. But when I take the bike in my hands and until, lets say, December-January we were not ready, of course. And what we show, what we did in the race, race one and race two, we was not even thinking that it was possible to make [the grid]. From when we start was only one month before. I mean it was…

    Cook: Very little time…

    Biaggi: No, not possible, but at the end it was possible and uh, really, really strong pushing from the factory and they make a really hard job. But now you can see the competition is very high and to go, to make the step over from where we start is hard.

    Barone: The potential is there? For the V4?

    Biaggi: Who knows? You know everyone has got potential but they must show potential at the end of the day.

    Barone: Well we know your potential, we worry about the bike

    Biaggi: The bike is not so bad, the bike is not so bad. But,

    Cook: What is your favorite part about it? It fits you well?

    Biaggi: The handling, the handling is good, but as I said you know it is not easy to have acceleration and good power delivery or deceleration, you can not have everything, of course. But in most of the tracks we suffer of a vibration and a different to ride from the bottom is what me and Nakano have the most problems.

    Barone: You’ve had to lower the engine in the chassis. The engine is lower now?

    Biaggi: You can, but we don’t’

    Barone: Oh you haven’t?

    Biaggi: No, we tried but we don’t see at this time, no better.

    Barone: Almost all top level riders could have done something else and been very good at it. I saw that maybe you played futbol as well.

    Biaggi: Sometimes yes

    Barone: Was there a chance for you to do something else?

    Biaggi: Ahhh. Maybe not. I don’t know. You know, when I played futbol just because my father was player and he was coach and that was the schooling; no motorcycle schooling in my house so I was not too bad, but not as talented as you have to [be] to do something special in your career. But you know motorcycle came into my life for passion only not for, I don’t see any other way to go racing for fame or money or something else. But then all these things came together because if you are successful in sports, which is one of the national sports in our country, so all the rest it can’t come right away. But also most of the people, they forgot that you need to have also, you must be dedicated. And dedication means sacrifice. People don’t think about this, they only think “Ah what is shiny most!”

    Barone: Spotlight.

    Biaggi: Spotlight yes.

    Abrams: You were sort of the guy for a while, but then when Rossi came along it was sort of good guy / bad guy wasn’t it?

    Biaggi: Ah! Well, this is a part of the game, after a while I can really say it you know. Always in sports you need one Kobe (Bryant) and one Barkley, and one Tyson one (Lennox) Lewis. It’s always like this and maybe they were thinking that I was suited better the bad guy. Maybe this [gesturing to his trademark goatee] make me bad. So he is like more blue angel but at the end of the day I’m not sure that this is fit myself. What can I say, I can not go each one and say “No this is correct or not, this is wrong.” I’m really at peace in myself and I have no problem with that.

    Abrams: But people don’t understand the Italian media. I mean, we have nothing like that but you have daily newspapers, you have websites, you have radio every day. You’re not just a sports figure, you’re a national figure. And they have to make news every day.

    Biaggi: I don’t know if this is the priority for them, but for sure yeah it looks like there is a star system and in there all the actors, politicians, and then only few sports soccer or motorcycle maybe one or two. But then about this they talk about, as you say, radio, gossip magazine. You are into there even if you don’t want. They show you with a thing in your nose or … you are in there and for somehow it’s good to be there for some things, for somehow maybe it’s not. But, I don’t decide this and I can’t decide. But they are happy, well okay.

    Cook: You like coming to America, I know you do some supermoto riding down in Southern California.

    Biaggi: Yes, I came here like ten years ago. I came here for shooting the commercial for eh, for someone? And then I like the area, I start to move around and I see so many houses in California, Santa Monica, and I think in California, this is the best way. Venice, and Santa Monica, and Malibu this is the best area to go for a short time and actually in off season I come here, like two months a year spend time, do some supermoto, motocross bike. I’m enjoy, I like to be in the opposite way of where I’m living normally. I’m living in city just packed and full right? But I like to be on a farm and with horse or whatever. This is fantastic.

    Barone: Turn of the telephone maybe? The computer goes away…

    Biaggi: Luckily where I’m staying my cell doesn’t have reception there

    Cook: “Can’t hear you I’m sorry.”

    Biaggi: Yeah, leave a message!

    Abrams: What is your contract status?

    Biaggi: Contract, With Aprilia?

    Abrams: Yeah.

    Biaggi: I have a 2 year deal

    Abrams: So this year and next year?

    Biaggi: And when we discuss about that was last year in July. I really want to do one year contract just to check it out you know, what it’s going to be, blah, blah blah. But they push me so hard to make two years, two years, two years. So they really want me to be there and for sure to help them out for develop the bike. And in the end I said “Okay, Lets Go.”

    Barone: In MotoGP you often do not get a chance to test ride the bike before you sign contract. Did Aprilia let you test ride the V4?

    Biaggi: No

    Barone: No? So you..

    Biaggi: Same way

    Barone: Same way.

    Biaggi: I didn’t know anything. I buy a present and I didn’t open the present. I just get the cake or whatever it is and just trust, you know?

    Cook: The team members did you know them?

    Biaggi: Yeah when I did my contract I pushed and one of the condition was to have this team.

    Barone: Is Brazi on your team?

    Biaggi: No, Sandi.

    Barone: Oh, Okay.

    Biaggi: That was part of my deal to have the people that I know. In a good and a bad way. Sometime even if it’s bad at least you have a team who surround you and knows from the past how you move around and how to take you. And a good thing, it is always nice to be successful with someone that you was successful in the past with.

    Cook: Have they been with Aprilia before?

    Barone: Oh yeah, they were all his 250 team I think.

    Biaggi: They were of the championships together.

    Cook: They’ve been with you a long time then?

    Biaggi: Yes. Not all of them, but most of them.

    Abrams: Were you at all surprised at how well Spies is doing.

    Biaggi: Yes, sometimes yes. But at some racetrack I see also Sykes, the other guy, like in Qatar, they never saw Qatar and in the early times they are one and two. And sometime I think, “Oh Shit, must be a good package yeah?” At some other no, Spies is faster than this guy most of the time but some other track, Wow. They are one and two, one and two. I’m thinking they make a very good package this year with that bike.

    Abrams: Did you think there would be more riders winning races this year? Because it’s really only a few riders?

    Biaggi: Well, I hope, I hope it can be my turn but you know, if you are talking about Ducati, I think for sure the regulation is too much in their favor.

    Abrams: Did you say once that not getting the Ducati contract was the most disappointing thing in your career:

    Biaggi: No.

    Abrams: Were you disappointed not to get it?

    Biaggi: No, it just didn’t happen. When we were speaking about that Aprilia came with this offer and I cancel all the way out and even if it was a not happy move, but in this case I really agreed everything and go with these guys.

    Barone: How do you…I club race, Ed club races. When we are beginning to prepare for a race, very serious, very concentrated, all weekend and you are very relaxed right now. How is that?

    Biaggi: Just now! But normally I’m very focused on what I’m doing and one thing that I really don’t like that people in the media thinking that because I’m so serious in what I’m doing that I’m a difficult person or like Kocinski, or whatever; I’m not. I’m just because when I was twenty I was already mature and I know when you go when you go 200mph you risk your life and I want to be 100% under my control what I’m doing. If I’ve prepared my horse, it must be the best I can make. And if I have some missing it is my fault I don’t want to be you know, in the gravel or something because I forgot to tell something to my team or to my mechanic. So that’s why, when I’m three days here, the weekend in three days enjoy when I’m there but when I’m prepared something you must cure your horse and your team and some more gossip journalists say, because not all the journalists here are so into racing or know anything about racing. Some have just came because their boss say “Hey go to follow the MotoGP or Superbike.” So this is not really the best way to speak about riders or team, or whatever.

    Abrams: What is your favorite racebike of all time?

    Biaggi: My favorite bike? I think the 500 was still the very old dog and you can see because the difference is when the 500 came and I was riding, that year, that period, you see people riders around the paddock with so many casts [imitates injured riders in casts with broken bones] like this, like this, like this. When 4 stroke technology come with the traction control, electric tools blah, blah, blah, blah. Everybody’s jumping around, not hurt it’s more difficult to see people injured in the motorsport what they did just to make bikes rideable for most of the people while before the rider can ride, only few on the planet, not on this country, on the planet.

    Barone: You were one of them.

    Biaggi: So that was good because you can do more of your talent. Right now they make these [bikes] flat then you don’t have this guy or this guy or this guy, you have this so many guys.

    Barone: Does this mean you prefer to ride a bike without electronic?

    Biaggi: Of course. 100% I mean riders can do something about, I mean if you like to be in the seat on the formula one car. What do you think? If you take the last guy on the top 16 on the formula one, you take the last, you give him Mercedes McLaren or Ferrari he would be automatically top five. So this is like more show and then more basic. And here it becomes like this more.

    Cook: Work on a lot of settings.

    Biaggi: Yes here and MotoGP for sure. But don’t think superbike is far away.

    Barone: No it doesn’t it appear to be at all anymore

    Biaggi: Not anymore, no. Don’t think it’s far away. Looks like now I need to ride!…

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