WSB Brno blog: Is Biaggi unbeatable at Brno?

On paper it’s hard to see anyone beating Max Biaggi this weekend in Brno. His record around the dramatic and undulating Czech circuit is unprecedented. He started winning at the 3.35 mile circuit back in 1994 when his reign of the 250GP class began. Riding the Aprilia RS250 he took victory from Ralph Waldmann and went on to repeat the performance in 1995 and 1996 for Aprilia.     

In 1997 his switch to Honda didn’t slow him down and he won again at Brno and like the previous three years won the 250GP world title as well.

In 1998 he switched to 500GP’s but his undisputed pace around the circuit continued and he claimed his second ever 500GP win onboard the Erv Kanemoto prepared Honda NSR. 

Two years later, after his switch to Yamaha he won again onboard the YZR 500 and following MotoGP’s switch to 990 four strokes in 2002 he proved himself yet again by taking victory ahead of Daijiro Katoh.

After that victory, Biaggi then endured his longest win drought at Brno and had to wait five years until 2007 when he swapped GP’s for WSB. Riding the Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 Biaggi won again after two tough races with James Toseland.

In 2008 onboard the Sterilgarda Ducati not even Biaggi’s magic could propel him to a win, but 12 months on riding for the factory Aprilia squad he secured his and the RSV4’s first victory.

Brno is a wide flowing race track that clearly suits Biaggi like no other. His pin point accuracy combined with the necessity to link corners comes from his time spent on a 250 and because of the nature of the track that style still works on a 230bhp relatively heavy Superbike.

There’s also the fact that Biaggi is currently on stunning form. From the 16 races in 2010 the 39 year old Italian has won eight of them including victories at the last four. He arrives at his favourite track on the planet brimming with confidence and will undoubtedly be hard to beat. He’ll also be helped by the blistering top speed and acceleration of his Aprilia, especially up the long steep hill at the end of the lap that favours big BHP.

However he’s not the only rider with good form at Brno, Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio has pulled of some stunning rides here in the past. Fabrizio is not a big fan of Biaggi and would like nothing more than to beat him around Brno, he also has nothing to lose in terms of the championship as he currently sits eighth in the standings. 

Noriyuki Haga has also won in Brno, from 18th on the grid no less as has James Toseland in 2007 after his scrap with Biaggi.

Championship contender Leon Haslam likes the track but admits that he has never gone well at the circuit. Haslam currently sits 37 points behind Biaggi in the standings making it vital that he has at least two podiums on Sunday to keep his title hopes alive.

Do you think Biaggi is unbeatable? Have a bet on the WSB race in Brno with Paddy Power