Happenings in Motorcyc ling
A BIAGGI MILESTONE
Max Biaggi has accomplished a lot since his Grand Prix debut in the 250cc class in 1991
at the European Grand Prix at [arama, Spain, where he scored a DNF. That year he finished 27th in the 250 Grand Prix Championship after starting four races . The following
year, in '92, things would improve dramaticallyfor the ItalianAprilia rider, as he carded
his first podium finish at the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, Italy, and then went on to
score his first victory at the final race of the year at Kyalami, in South Africa.
Before moving up to the SOOcc class, Biaggi won four 2S0cc World Championships
with a grand total of 29 wins and 53 podium finishes, in addition to 33 pole positions . His
500cc class debut was at the Japanese Gran d Prix at Suzuka in 1998, where he completed a hat tr ick cons isting of the po le position, the fastest lap and his maiden' victory, all
against Mick Doohan, no less.
To date, Biaggi has been victorious in 12 500cc/MotoGP races, been on the podium
48 times and started from the pole position 22 times.
Prior to the French Grand Prix at the Le Mans circuit on May 16, his team manager,
former two-time 250cc World Champion Sito Pons (pictured right), presented Camel
Honda 's Biagg with a cake to commemorate his 100th podium , a second, at the Spanish
i
Grand Prix at Jerez, Spain, two weeks earlier. Biaggi added another podium appearance
to his tally later in the weekend by finishingthird in the Le Mans race , bringing the grand
total to 10 I. If there is one thing to count on , it's that the tally will surely grow a lot
more before Biaggi is finished wit h his motorcycle racing career.
92 JUNE 16,2004 • CYCLE NEWS
40TH
ANNIVERSARY
