VOL. 52 ISSUE 26 JUNE 30, 2015 P91
BY GORDON RITCHIE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
F
or Max Biaggi the re-appear-
ance in World Superbike
started as well as it possibly
could, leading both free practic-
es on Friday.
Much to the delight of the
home crowd, it was a great
performance from the not-so-
retired former World Champion.
But how did the Roman Emperor
himself feel about his return to
race action after his last com-
petitive race in 2012?
"It is a great and unbelievable
comeback," Biaggi said. "This
is something that gives you so
much energy when you are able
to do something like that. Of
course I did not expect to be
P1 in both sessions on day one
and I can only say thanks for the
opportunity. It is only FP [Free
Practice] so far, not qualifying,
but it shows that we have some
muscles under our t-shirt. I think
the other guys are in very good
shape over race distance and I
am sure they are kind of strong."
Valentino Rossi said in Barce-
lona that as long as a rider is fit
and fast it would be difficult to
retire, and Biaggi agreed up to a
point at Misano.
"He said something true of
course because to be fit is
always something to sacrifice,"
Biaggi said. "Normally every
athlete when they stop they quit
because if you do not quit then
you keep going with the fitness.
I do it for the pleasure and to be
MAX BIAGGI TALKS ABOUT HIS BIG
COMEBACK AT MISANO, HIS ROLE AT APRILIA
AND RACING IN GENERAL.
THE
EMPEROR'S
NEW GROOVE
