With the completion of Honda and Ducati MotoGP tests at Sepang, Malaysia today, Max Biaggi is shaping up as a real threat to take Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP title in 2003.
There are two primary reasons why Biaggi should be tough in 2003. First, unlike Rossi, Biaggi never really changed his riding style after leaving the 250 class (where he won four World titles). He rides the front tire very hard, rather than employing the “point and shoot” technique utilized by most of the two-stroke riders in the old 500 class. As Rossi himself admits, the new four-strokes must be ridden with a technique more like Biaggi’s. Rossi said he is riding the four-stroke more like he rode in the 250 class, rather than the technique he adopted to win on the 500cc two-stroke two years ago.
The second reason Biaggi should be a threat for the title is his Honda v-5 motorcycle. By all accounts, it is the best bike on the grid in MotoGP, and the Sepang test results back this up. Both Rossi and Biaggi were close to two seconds under the lap record at Sepang on their Hondas, while Ducati and Suzuki (which also recently tested at Sepang) are still a ways off that pace. Biaggi is already comfortable enough to throw down an incredible lap (Rossi’s best lap at Sepang was just slightly more incredible). Rossi, of course, has a year’s experience on the Honda, while Biaggi is just learning the machine.
