Surprisingly, Honda announces that Biaggi will have an official RC 211V....

ROSSI'S HONDA TO BIAGGI

After the forfeit victory at Donington for Max Biaggi is coming
another surprise. Honda's help to launch the attack on Valentino
Red in the second part of the World Cup.
The help is the kind that can lead straight to the title: the unbeatable
( almost) Official RC211V. The latest very positive tests from the Roman
they helped change the Tokyo giant's mind. Probably not
it's a coincidence that the official bike could arrive right now, in
final phase of the negotiation on the renewal of the contract with the world champion,
expiring in 2003.
Biaggi, who tested the new chassis at Donington and spent a weekend there
as a protagonist (the forfeit victory had been preceded by the
pole), will have to race again in the German GP with the customer bike. Then
in the Czech Republic, on August 17 in Brno or, at the latest, three weeks later
Portugal, the Roman rider will finally get on the official bike.

The head-to-head with Valentino could therefore be resolved on the track, with weapons
even. Same class, same vehicle.
The second part of the championship promises entertainment. Also this year the
dominance of the Tokyo motorbike is clear, but compared to 2002 it is more
distributed among its pilots. Eight races and 7 victories: 3 with Rossi, 3 with Gibernau
and one with Biaggi. The only exception, the sharp of Capirossi's Ducati a
Barcelona.
The HRC plan to deliver to Max the 220 horsepower gem which, under leasing,
it costs one and a half million euros and is already ready.

Until the first days of August, the technicians are busy preparing
of the bikes for the Suzuka 8 Hours, a race that the Tokyo manufacturer considers important
as much as a World Cup. Then we can start working on the RC211V for
the Pramac-Pons team. Not an easy job, which requires skilled hands. Not at
case last year, to learn the secrets of this motorbike, the mechanics of
Fausto Gresini's team faced a trip to Japan for a couple of
weeks before assembling it and entrusting it to the late Daijiro Kato. The motion
of Honda, which with Biaggi will thus field 5 official bikes in
World Cup, it will still end up having repercussions on the contractual issue
by Rossi. The Roman, who often claimed the official RC211V during the season,
instead, he will face the final championship matches with good spirits
to the stars.
Also because the reasons are linked to the poor availability of technicians
before the Suzuka 8 Hours they should postpone Max's debut on
Official Honda in Brno. A debut in style on the track
exalts Biaggi (seven victories in 10 races).
While there are always some differences with Rossi's bike, the one destined
to Biaggi it will alleviate the clutch problems which, during this championship,
the Roman has often denounced. In fact, the official vehicle uses the new one
anti-slipper system, with larger and better cooled clutch.
A small advantage in braking. Which, perhaps, could have been avoided
to Max the mistake on Sunday, when the neutral gear kicked in and it was
went straight.
A mistake that had given the lead to Valentino Rossi. Then the mess
of the yellow flag not respected (or not seen) by the Pesaro assigned
Biaggi gets his first victory of the season.
After the race, the Roman driver claimed that he hadn't noticed anything
and wanting to review the race again before making judgements: "I reviewed the images
registered – says Max – . They are very clear, but I continue to believe
to Rossi when he says he hasn't seen them".
Biaggi returns for a moment to the statements made by Valentino after the race:
"I'm not looking for controversy, I don't really care.
But I didn't like the terms he used towards the
my team. Calling him a mafioso is a heavy insult, they are serious words
and unjustified.
I hope they were said in the heat of the moment."
Max relaxed yesterday in Monte Carlo playing football with Didier Deschamps
in the usual Monday match. But he's still in the race mood:
" Even the joke that if he has to lose from me it better happen
like Sunday it's not right. Two weeks ago, in Assen, Rossi is
arrived behind both Ame and Gibernau. For the rest, I repeat, I am the first
to not be happy for a victory like this. But I gave everything
myself on the track and I'm proud of my race."
The new bike is on the way but Max will race at the Sachsenring on July 27th
still with the customer version.
And the tests are pressing: "On Wednesday and Thursday, in Brno, we will concentrate
on the new chassis. At Donington, in 4 hours, we didn't discover all that
there is something to discover. It's certainly better than the old one,
I'll try to understand to what extent by trying different combinations of
tires".

Giorgio Specchia

(La Gazzetta dello Sport)