Biaggi evokes memories with Aprilia win

Following a drought of 49 races that stretches back to his Suzuki days, Max Biaggi can call himself a winner once again after claiming a superb maiden World Superbike victory as an Aprilia rider at Brno.

The Italian, who is only the fifth different race winner this season, made the most of an accident involving Michel Fabrizio and Ben Spies to cruise to victory aboard the RSV-4.

The win brings about several milestones for both rider and team in that the victory marks Biaggi's first since Vallelunga 2007, while has also been eight years since Regis Laconi last won for Aprilia at Imola in 2001.

Furthermore, it is also the first Biaggi-Aprilia victory combination since 1996 when they competed together at 250cc level.

Lauding the progress the bike and team have made since the beginning of the season, Biaggi refused to believe his victory had been made any less deserving by demise of Fabrizio or Spies.

"It's great! What can I say! When I crossed the start-finish I was so happy to be winning this race and I had so many flashbacks of Brno, I can feel that it is one of my favourite circuits.

"Of course I don't want to take anything away from Spies and Fabrizio, they were both very fast, but I remember Barry Sheene used to say 'To finish first, first you have to finish' and this is a part of the deal. I put my head down and did not make any mistake, so a big thanks to all my crew, Aprilia and in particular Gigi Dall'Igna, the 'papa' of our bike!."

Indeed, while Biaggi's victory in race one could have been described as fortuitous, his ride to second in race two would suggest otherwise.

Despite a few problems dispatching Fabrizio for second, Biaggi's harassment of Spies very nearly saw him come away with the double, further proof that he is capable to challenging his rivals in a straight fight.

"I'm quite pleased [with race two]. It's not a victory but we proved that we have a lot of muscle and could fight with Fabrizio and Spies all the time. I stopped behind Fabrizio for quite a time, while Spies managed to pull away.

"In the end I passed him and went to catch Spies. I tried to brake very late, but I didn't want to take him out like it was in the first race. We got a good result and it was a very good weekend here for Aprilia."