MotoGP: Yamaha - No interest in Biaggi.

[R1 Biker]

MONDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2005

Yet another door appears to have closed in Max Biaggi's face, with his former employer Yamaha - the biggest manufacturer still to confirm its full 2006 rider line-up - stating that they have no interest in working with the Roman.

With Biaggi's already slim chances of staying on a Honda appearing to disappear further by the day - and with the factory Ducati, Suzuki and Kawasaki seats already occupied - Yamaha looked like Biaggi's last hope of landing a decent 2006 ride.

Although a return to a factory M1 is out of the question - Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will again be factory riders next year - it was thought that Camel money may have helped Biaggi seal a satellite M1 seat, perhaps with Tech 3, whose own future appears uncertain after losing title sponsor Fortuna - and star rider Toni Elias - to Team Gresini.

After making his 500cc debut on a Kanemoto Honda in 1998, when he won two races, Biaggi switched to the factory Yamaha outfit the following season - and would remain with the then Marlboro backed team until the end of 2002.

Biaggi won a total of eight races with Yamaha, including two with the YZR-M1 (lower pic), and finished championship runner-up on two occasions but - in a near repeat of his current situation - criticisms of his machinery led Yamaha to end their relationship, something Biaggi was happy to do, having made clear that he wanted an RCV.

Max rode for the next two-years with Camel Honda, winning three races and finishing third in the championship, before getting a 'dream' factory ride with Repsol Honda for 2005. But that dream soon turned into a nightmare and Biaggi ended the season fifth in the championship, with zero wins and only four podiums.

The 34-year-old has been replaced by Dani Pedrosa for 2006, but looked set to return to Camel Honda - thanks to his close links with the sponsor. However, this seems to have been vetoed by HRC, prompting Camel and Biaggi to search for a seat elsewhere.

With that in mind, Crash.net asked Yamaha if "there is any chance that Biaggi could be back on a Yamaha next year?"

The reply, from a Yamaha spokesperson, was as follows: "Yamaha has no plan or intention to work with Biaggi."

Biaggi's best hope thus remains that he, Camel and Honda can somehow reach a compromise - but with Casey Stoner and Carlos Checa riding for Pons at the Valencia test that looks very unlikely, although Pons has yet to officially announce a 2006 rider line-up.

The only other potentially competitive to-be-announced seats are at the satellite D'Antin Ducati squad - but James Ellison, Jose Luis Cardoso and Roby Rolfo are the main contenders for Luis D'Antin's two Desmosedicis.

Max Biaggi, fresh from his Brno victory, during qualifying at Estoril.

[Mahmoud]

poor biaggi.....

he must be kicking himself now....

[R1 Biker]

He got owned !!! imagine he goes back to superbike that would be dam funny

[RdKetchup]

Envoyé par Yamaha Graves

He got owned !!! imagine he goes back to superbike that would be dam funny

Well, he wouln'd be going back, since he's never been in superbike AFAIK.

Didn't he start is internationnal racing career by going straight to 250cc?

[R1 Biker]

I meant by going back is to go race in superbike
cause it's looking that no one wants him in Motogp !!

Max Biaggi started his racing career in 1989, after the youngster won the Italian Sport Production Championship in 1990 his career path was clear. After his success in 125ccm category, Biaggi moved to 250ccm class Aprilia

http://www.sitogratis.net/superbike/...max_biaggi.php

[HRC-E.B.]

A classic case of "burning your bridges". He left Yamaha saying Honda was better, and now he trots around saying his Honda is a POS...

Given his exploits at making good publicity for Yamaha , one would understand that Yamaha "has no plans or intention to work with Biaggi"; with friends like these...

[R1 Biker]

well.....i hate to say it, but he got exactly what he asked for. no ride.

now he has no bike to complain about.

guess he can watch motogp from the safety of his couch next year....

[Task514]

Biaggi is a perfect guy LOL he blames everything on others. Now who you going to blame this on? no bike sucka