There were two distinct Max Biaggis today at Misano, both winning on the Adriatic circuit during the seventh 2012 World SBK round. After taking race 1, battling at every curve with the best riders in World SBK (he started from the tenth spot on the grid), Biaggi had the satisfaction of dominating race 2 in true Biaggi style, that is, demonstrating an unsustainable pace for all his rivals right from the start.
Starting once again from the third row, this time Max completed part of his masterpiece already in the first lap. Lying in fifth place after just a few curves, he rode his Aprilia RSV4 to third place by the end of the first lap. Overtaking Rea in the second lap and then front runner Sykes in the third, Max literally widened the gap with a series of fast laps that led to an advantage of more than seven seconds. He was followed across the finish line by Rea and Haslam.
It was a long, beautiful, victorious ride that sealed an important day for the five time world champion and the Aprilia Racing Team. Now, at the championship halfway mark, Max strengthens his lead in the standings with 210.5 points. Behind him are Rea at 172 (- 38.5 points) Sykes at 164.5 (- 46), Melandri at 155.5 (- 55) and Checa at 150.5 (- 60).
Max now leads the world championship with a 38.5 point advantage.
WSBK Misano Race 2 results
- 01. Max Biaggi — Aprilia Racing Team — Aprilia RSV4 Factory — 24 laps in 39’01.869
- 02. Jonathan Rea — Honda World Superbike Team — Honda CBR 1000RR — + 5.355
- 03. Leon Haslam — BMW Motorrad Motorsport — BMW S1000RR — + 5.731
- 04. Marco Melandri — BMW Motorrad Motorsport — BMW S1000RR — + 7.004
- 05. Ayrton Badovini — BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet — BMW S1000RR — + 7.921
- 06. Michel Fabrizio — BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet — BMW S1000RR — + 17.291
- 07. Tom Sykes — Kawasaki Racing Team — Kawasaki ZX-10R — + 17.351
- 08. Loris Baz — Kawasaki Racing Team — Kawasaki ZX-10R — + 17.630
- 09. Jakub Smrz — Team Effenbert Liberty Racing — Ducati 1198 — + 18.211
- 10. Matteo Baiocco — Barni Racing Team — Ducati 1198 — + 28.131
- 11. Maxime Berger — Team Effenbert Liberty Racing — Ducati 1198 — + 28.407
- 12. Hiroshi Aoyama — Honda World Superbike Team — Honda CBR 1000RR — + 38.060
- 13. Niccolò Canepa — Red Devils Roma — Ducati 1198 — + 49.003
- 14. John Hopkins — FIXI Crescent Suzuki — Suzuki GSX-R 1000 — + 51.881
- 15. Leon Camier — FIXI Crescent Suzuki — Suzuki GSX-R 1000 — + 55.502
- 16. Leandro Mercado — Team Pedercini — Kawasaki ZX-10R — + 1’06.361
- 17. Federico Sandi — Grillini Progea Superbike Team — BMW S1000RR — + 1’29.918
