2011 World Superbike
One of three riders who has a realistic shot at the 2011 World Superbike title will be forced to miss his home round in Imola this weekend – Max Biaggi.
The Italian is still recovering from a fracture to his metatarsus on his left foot, which occurred after hit some debris during practice at Nurburgring three weeks ago.
Biaggi is not completely healed, and the injury prevents “even the most basic functionality of the limb for the Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team rider.” Due to the location of the injury, Biaggi can’t properly operate the gear shifter.
Biaggi had intentions of riding at Imola World Superbike, and traveled there hoping to compete. But the pain was too much for the 40-year-old Biaggi.
Dr. Claudio Costa, who examined Max Thursday in the Mobile Clinic at Imola, was not able to place the official seal on a compromised situation.
Dr. Claudio Costa says: “It is a bad split fracture which – fortunately – is progressing well. But it has not healed and the X-ray today shows that. Max – summoning up reason – was forced to acknowledge the situation. Now what he must do is observe complete rest until Sunday and begin the proper therapy on Monday in order to have any hope of racing at Magny-Cours.”
Max Biaggi (Alitalia Aprilia RSV4 Superbike) says: “I came here to try, because my hope was to race on this track which provided me with such great emotion last year, but I have no choice but to painfully acknowledge what has been determined by the last medical exams, conducted just a few minutes ago.
” The pain has not let up, the fracture is not healed and I don’t have the mobility to be able to ride. It is very painful for me to be here stating that I cannot race. I hope that now I will be able to recover in time to be back in the saddle at Magny-Cours.”
As the series heads into Round 11 at Imola, Biaggi was 96 points behind the current series’ leader, Althea Ducati’s Carlos Checa, and 21 behind Yamaha’s Marco Melandri. With the amount of points remaining, these are the only three riders with a realistic chance at the title. But if Checa garners a total of 26 points this weekend at Imola, he will clinch his first-ever World Superbike title.
As he stated, Biaggi hopes to be back at Magny-Cours, which is the penultimate round before the season finale at Portimao.
