Monday, May 6, 2013
2012 MOTO GP CHAMPION MAX BIAGGI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
The year 2012 is on an end and it also brought the end of some racing legends, first Michael Schumacher announced his retirement from F1 racing and now four time world champion Max Biaggi has announced his retirement from motorcycle racing. The 41-year-old Italian, who also won the World Superbike Championship twice and was champion for 2012 Moto GP as well, made the announcement at a press conference organised at Romes Vallelunga circuit, where he began his career. The racer was participating for Aprilias Eugene Laverty.
Biaggi said: "Ive chosen to quit and, unlike others, its not because of physical issues or because I havent found a competitive bike. Ive turned down a contract with Aprilia that was identical to the one I had this year, with the same bike, for the same money. "I believe Ive missed enough time with my children and my partner already, and I think its right that I dedicate myself to them because time flies and I cant stop that. Im not some old politician, attached to my chair; its only fair that I make way for the youngsters."
On Wednesday morning Biaggi pre-empted his media briefing by tweeting: "It is a new dawn for me today, nothing will be like it was before. Onwards and upwards, though!" Known as The Roman Emperor, Biaggi rode his first grand prix season at the age of 20 in 1992 and went on to win 29 races and four straight titles in the quarter-litre category with Aprilia and Honda.
Biaggis rivalry with his countryman Valentino Rossi raised the popularity of the premier 500cc category from 1998, as the two Italians beckoned in the MotoGP era. Biaggi, forced to sit out the whole 2006 season as Dani Pedrosa took his position, and soon switched to the World Superbike Championship and won on his debut in Qatar, for Alstare Suzuki. Biaggi returned to Aprilia to claim a single win in 2009, before taking his first World Superbike title in 2010 and wrestling the crown back from Carlos Checa at Magny-Cours last month. The search is now on for a new team-mate for Aprilias Eugene Laverty, with the 2013 season starting at Phillip Island in February.
