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World Superbike
MOTOGP: Rossi, Lorenzo Pay Tribute To Biaggi
MotoGP superstars Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo reflect on the career of the retiring Max Biaggi.
Max Biaggi and Valentino Rossi battle it out at Mugello in 2005 (Photo: Honda Pro Images)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Grand Prix of Valencia will air LIVE on SPEED on Sunday, November 11 at 7:00am ET. MotoGP QP will air LIVE on SPEED2 all season long. #MotoGPonSPEED
Max Biaggi's decision to retire prompted MotoGP stars Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo to reflect on the career of the double Word Superbike champion in advance of Sunday's Valencia Grand Prix.
This race is final event of the 2012 MotoGP season and last race before another retirement, that of Australia's Casey Stoner.
Stoner is walking away, disillusioned with MotoGP, at 27 while Biaggi has called it quits on an impressively resilient career at 41 as the reigning 2012 Superbike World Champion.
Biaggi never fulfilled his dream of winning the MotoGP title, unlike Stoner who goes with two titles, 2007 and 2011.
Lorenzo, the newly-crowned 2012 champion, paid tribute to his close buddy Biaggi as one motorcycling's most gifted riders.
Meanwhile, Rossi's reflections centered, not surprisingly, on the intense rivalry between the pair which remains one of the great feuds in MotoGP.
“With Biaggi it was a special relationship because we were great, great rivals for a long period, fighting for the championship in 500s and then MotoGP," Rossi said.
"It was very exciting to fight with him. I think the year where we were more close was in 2001 because it was the last season with the 500s and everybody wanted to win that historic championship and the battle was very hard in and out of the track."
Rossi and Biaggi never patched up their differences with Biaggi again finishing second to Rossi in the 2002 championship. Earlier Biaggi was runner-up to Mick Doohan in the 1998 500cc World Championship.
Lorenzo, 25, never raced against Biaggi but has huge respect.
“I think Biaggi is a special rider. He has a very pure technique -- very smooth and probably the smoothest rider I’ve ever seen," Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo revealed that he had spoken to Biaggi while the Italian great was contemplating his future and is sure he has reached the right decision.
"I had some chats with him and I think he made the right decision," Lorenzo said. "He doubted whether he was going to stay but I told him to leave while in perfect physical condition because you never know what can happen.
"He has a wonderful life, lots of money, and he has everything, so I think 41 is the right time to stop."
Along with his recent Superbike success, Biaggi also won four 250cc Grand Prix titles.
Max Biaggi's decision to retire prompted MotoGP stars Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo to reflect on the career of the double Word Superbike champion in advance of Sunday's Valencia Grand Prix.
This race is final event of the 2012 MotoGP season and last race before another retirement, that of Australia's Casey Stoner.
Stoner is walking away, disillusioned with MotoGP, at 27 while Biaggi has called it quits on an impressively resilient career at 41 as the reigning 2012 Superbike World Champion.
Biaggi never fulfilled his dream of winning the MotoGP title, unlike Stoner who goes with two titles, 2007 and 2011.
Lorenzo, the newly-crowned 2012 champion, paid tribute to his close buddy Biaggi as one motorcycling's most gifted riders.
Meanwhile, Rossi's reflections centered, not surprisingly, on the intense rivalry between the pair which remains one of the great feuds in MotoGP.
“With Biaggi it was a special relationship because we were great, great rivals for a long period, fighting for the championship in 500s and then MotoGP," Rossi said.
"It was very exciting to fight with him. I think the year where we were more close was in 2001 because it was the last season with the 500s and everybody wanted to win that historic championship and the battle was very hard in and out of the track."
Rossi and Biaggi never patched up their differences with Biaggi again finishing second to Rossi in the 2002 championship. Earlier Biaggi was runner-up to Mick Doohan in the 1998 500cc World Championship.
Lorenzo, 25, never raced against Biaggi but has huge respect.
“I think Biaggi is a special rider. He has a very pure technique -- very smooth and probably the smoothest rider I’ve ever seen," Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo revealed that he had spoken to Biaggi while the Italian great was contemplating his future and is sure he has reached the right decision.
"I had some chats with him and I think he made the right decision," Lorenzo said. "He doubted whether he was going to stay but I told him to leave while in perfect physical condition because you never know what can happen.
"He has a wonderful life, lots of money, and he has everything, so I think 41 is the right time to stop."
Along with his recent Superbike success, Biaggi also won four 250cc Grand Prix titles.
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