25/01/2005
Max Biaggi explained the secret behind his remarkable recovery from
injury at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia, where he today set lap record pace despite suffering the effects of a broken ankle.
Biaggi completed 43 laps with a best time of 2'02.35 on Monday and revealed: "Repsol orange really makes
me want to ride."
"There must be a mistake," continued
Biaggi. "I was not expecting to ride this fast right after the injury and more on the last year's bike.
We scored excellent laps even if we were not working for it. I really like the team spirit.
"HRC people are very motivated to do good. Erv
Kanemoto and my crew chief Hideki Iwano are collecting precious information for the new bike and I'm so happy to have two
perfectionists like them on my side."
Kanemoto, Repsol Honda's Technical Director, was typically humble
in the face of Biaggi's praise: "Personally I need to get up to speed fast with the RC211V," he
said. "I need to completely understand the machine and the minute effects that the changes we make to
it have on the package.
"I am looking and learning at the moment –
there is really no point my making any major changes until I have gathered much more data but I am encouraged by what we have
achieved in a short time.
"I am under no illusions – we have a lot
of work to do but we have a very strong spirit in the team and we have a big goal."
Biaggi cut an unusual sighted as he powered his way around the Sepang
circuit with his traditional number 3 in Repsol Honda colours, previously worn by his two main rivals Mick Doohan and Valentino
Rossi.
They were his first laps on a motorcycle since breaking his leg
in a supermoto accident in November but the former 250cc World Champion eased back into the groove with an encouraging time
of 2'03.35 after 52 laps.
"I'm back on the bike and I can ride - this
is the most important thing," he reflected. "The ankle still hurts, but I don't want to complain
anymore. The first test was this one on the foot, soon I will throw the crutches away.
We are already
working on the bike. New components need intense work. We must build 'The Winning Machine'. Being in HRC, with Erv Kanemoto,
means great joy and honour but also a big responsibility."
