| World Superbike :Interview, Francis Batta: |  Written: 08/10/2007 : 09:51. Read 7275 times (5/day). | Italian rider Max Biaggi (Suzuki), 3rd at the world superbike championship, and who rode all the season in the second league of Motorcycle racing after a year without a seat in MotoGP, « too greedy » is now free of contract, said his boss, the belgian Francis Batta, in a interview gave to the frenche press agency AFP.
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Q: Can you draw up a balance sheet of your season before the Magny Cours Race?
A: "We are second, 29 points behind the leade (Briton James Toseland) and it left 50 points to win, But Max made too many mistakes, espaeccially at Donington. I've fought during two years to have him as a rider. It is one of the best but as always, after a very good begining of season, he was less good in the middle and finaly reborn at the end.
We made to him a good offer for next season, at the same level as some best MotoGp riders. But he said no. His offer was 50% more than our, and Suzuki said that he was too greedy. So now Max Biaggi is free. Unless if he is world champion, no japanese manufacturer will accept these offers...
Max is too greedy and selfish. Its a mercenary, in the good sens. But he never brought us anything, and that played against him in MotoGP. Max Biaggi is a Brand himself. I am very disappointed..."
Q: Whic riders will you chose for next year?
A: "Superbike is directly linked to marketing of manufacturers. To win makes sale bikes. Japanes have three big markets, USA, but cover by the AMA championship, Japan, with their own championship and MotoGP as worldwide « showroom ». And at last Europe, represented by Superbike. In Europe they have five great marets : France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Great Brittain. In France Suzuki is focused on the Endurance championship with SERT; in Italy, there will be Loris Capirossi and in Great Brittain Suzuki has a good team in the national championship.
So it left Germany and Spain.
We are thinking about take -and its almost done- the german rider Max Neukirchener, who is currently substitute to Kagayama (who was hurt). And the youg spaniard Fonsi Nieto, young and talented rider who has already won 13 GP's in 250cc."
Q: Your main sponsor, a beer maker, leave you after 10 years of collaboration. Who will replace it?
A: "It was more than a sponsor, it was a real partner. But laws are now against commercials for alcohol drinks on race tracks, so it forces them to change their strategy. The Alstare team (100 workers in Italy, GB and Belgium with an annual sales figure of 17,6 M EUR) will certainly have to shorten a bit his sail. But I am currently in discussions with an energy dring maker, a insurance, and a bank to replace Corona. The choice would be announced in almost 15 days.
I really believe in the future of Superbike championship. It growthes by 30% each year. Now manufacturers are focused 60% on MotoGP and 40% on WSBK."
By Paul DEFOSSEUX
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(not translated yet) Laconi arrête la compétition
