BIAGGI ON HOME PODIUM AT MONZA
 Max
Biaggi raced his Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSX-R1000 to
third place in the opening World Superbike race at Monza today
and was on course for another podium in race two until clashing
with another rider.
Exiting the Ascari, Biaggi ran wide, rejoined the track,
but touched the Ducati of Troy Bayliss and in the impact,
his clutch lever was bent out of position. When he tried to
brake for the Parabolica, the clutch didn't work and he had
to stamp on the rear brake to slow down and in so doing ran
onto the kerbstones and nearly highsided. The Italian -racing
in front of his home fans - made a tremendous recovery, but
the leaders had managed to sneak past.
Yukio Kagayama had a frustrating day, finishing sixth in
race one after suffering grip problems and then losing ground
at the start of the second when a group of riders cut the
chicane on the first lap. Once that happened, he tried to
regain ground, but the gap was too great and he had to chase
the pack, eventually ending up seventh.
Max Biaggi:
"I feel a bit frustrated about the result even though
I got a podium in race one. For race two I focussed on getting
a good start and everything was going more or less to plan
until the last lap. I knew I had to lead exiting the Ascari,
because otherwise the others would draft me, so I pushed really
hard. I went wide on the exit and when I rejoined the track
Bayliss and I touched. The impact damaged my clutch and footrest,
but I didn't really realise that at the time. On the approach
to the final turn - the Parabolica - I tried to brake hard
and late and found I had no clutch! I ran onto the kerbs and
nearly highsided, but I was just about able to keep control
and carry on. But by then, Toseland, Bayliss and Rolfo had
got past and my chance of a second podium was gone.
"Monza has been a fantastic experience and the huge
number of fans here has made this a great weekend. Although
there were a lot of people here, asking for my autographs
and photos, I didn't mind and I tried to sign as many as possible.
I am happy to do this for race fans."
Yukio Kagayama:
"I am not so happy with my results today because I know
they should've been a lot better. My start in race one was
ok and I was in third place with lots of riders around me
going into the first chicane. It was very busy! After about
five or six laps, my rear grip started going down and I began
to lose ground - especially on the long straights.
"In race two, many riders cut the first chicane and
I lost a lot of places. Once that happened it was difficult
to catch up and regain the places. Here at Monza, once the
front group is gone, there is no chance to catch them again.
This weekend has been a bit frustrating for me and I hope
that the next race weekend can be better. "
Race 1: 1 Haga (J-Yamaha), 2 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati),
3 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 4 Toseland (GB-Honda),
5 Corser (Aus-Yamaha), 6 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra), 7 Lanzi (I-Ducati), 8 Fabrizio (I-Honda), 9
Muggeridge (Aus-Honda), 10 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki).
Race 2: 1 Haga, 2 Toseland, 3 Bayliss, 4
Rolfo (I-Honda), 5 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra),
6 Corser 7 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra),
8 Laconi (F-Kawasaki), 9 Muggeridge,10 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) .
Championship Points: 1 Toseland 229, 2 Haga
194, 3 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 191, 4 Bayliss
164, 5 Corser 135, 6 Lanzi 107, 7 Xaus 106, 8 Neukirchner
81, 9 Rolfo 77, 10 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona
Extra) 60.
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