Biaggi back - and fastest!

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) shocked some parts of the WSB world by taking an early lead in the time sheets with a fast 1’35.684 lap at Misano in the first session at the 4.226km circuit.

Biaggi, now 44 years old, had the advantage on most however, as he had tested at the circuit on his full WSB machine recently, and therefore has his early set-up sorted under the new rules for 2015. Other riders did not have this advantage at Misano this early in race weekend, with only some of their previous data being relevant as it was gained on bikes with more horsepower and engine mods than the 2015 rules alow.

It was still a dream comeback for the former double WSB champion, on his predominantly white and red Aprilia RSV-4 which he helps to develop in his role as official test team rider or the factory squad.

He runs longer first and second gears than the factory riders but in all other ways his team claimed his machine was the same as those used by Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres. As a wildcard rider he is allowed to choose a different set of internal rations than the ones first set by the regulars at the start of the year.

Second fastest in the first session was Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB), Jonathan Rea (KRT) was third and on a morning of surprises IDM wildcard rider for BMW VanZon Remeha, Markus Reiterberger, was fourth.