Max Biaggi predicts the Czech MotoGP title will be his on Sunday. The Italian has won four consecutive 250cc grands prix at the circuit, the 500 cc race in 2001 and the MotoGP race last year.
Max Biaggi has warned his competitors that the Czech MotoGP title will be his on Sunday. The Italian has won four consecutive 250cc grands prix at the circuit, the 500 cc race in 2001 and the MotoGP race last year.
“It’s my race. I always give of my best here. I’ve won seven times here in 250cc and MotoGP. It’s a circuit I like,” he told .
“It’s exhilarating to race through each of these turns that push you to the limit, a course that’s very demanding on the motor but here your method of bike handling can win also win you 1/10ths of seconds.”
Biaggi is third in the overall standings, 57 points behind leader Valentino Rossi. But he believes he can catch up. “My season starts in Brno. The title is still in my sights,” said the Honda rider.
Biaggi won the British Grand Prix in July after Rossi was given a 10-second penalty almost three hours after the race.
“We still have seven races to go. That’s an eternity. I know that I can no longer afford the slightest mistake, but I want to take my chances race after race and that’s what makes me optimistic. Don’t forget that in past years, my performances improved in the second half of the season.”
The 5,403km undulating circuit was built in 1986 and hosted its first grand prix, the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix a year later, which was won by Australian Wayne Gardner on a Honda. It has staged grand prix racing ever since with the name changing to the Czech Republic Grand Prix in 1993.
Antonio Cobas, the technical director of Biaggi’s team, Camel Pramac Pons, said the track is ideal for smooth riding
250cc-like techniques. “You only have to look at Max’s successes at the track to confirm that point.
“We must provide the riders with a very agile machine, so that the changes in direction in the five wide chicane-type bends can be negotiated as fast as possible.
“It’s also vital we set-up the engine so that the riders have the opportunity of taking all the corners as smooth as possible. Due to the considerable width of the track, the riders can accelerate very early on through the corners if the engine is set-up adequately.
“Brno provides us with some unique challenges and that’s why we enjoy going there so much.”