Max Biaggi

Biaggi attempted to reach an agreement to race the Superbike World Championship for Corona Alstare Suzuki in, but the team could not commit to equal equipment with their existing riders, champion Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama. Read Less

Biaggi began the season by winning the first race at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and finishing second in race two. In doing so Max Biaggi became one of only five men to win their first Superbike World Championship race, and the only rider ever to win his first Superbike race and his first race in 500cc Grand Prix. He then finished 3rd and 4th at Phillip Island, Australia.

After a hard championship Max Biaggi finished third, behind World Champion James Toseland and Yamaha top rider Noriyuki Haga.

At the end of the season, Francis Batta, Alstare Suzuki Racing Team director, was forced to release Biaggi, due to the loss of the main sponsor Corona Extra, as they could not reach financial agreement. Furthermore, Suzuki decided to stop official Superbike development for, instead focusing on the MotoGP championship. For Biaggi replaced team manager Marco Borciani as a rider at his Team Sterilgarda/GoEleven, riding a satelitte-works Ducati 1098RS alongside Ruben Xaus. He finished seventh overall with seven podiums, three places ahead of Xaus and one ahead of factory Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio. Read Less