Former champion Max Biaggi gets ready to compete with his 'new team' following a series of personnel changes during the winter period.
2010 World Superbike Champion
Max Biaggi is setting his sights high ahead of the opening round of the 2012 series at Phillip Island following his successful run during pre-season testing.
Though Biaggi didn't top any one session in the build up to the curtain raiser, the Italian was rarely classified outside the top five, with the man himself insisting he wasn't striving for headline-grabbing lap times regardless.
Coming to the first race with a 'new team' around him following a series of personnel changes within the Aprilia camp, including new crew chief Aligi Deganello, Biaggi has been pleased with his pace around a circuit he doesn't list as one of his favourites.
"These days of testing have been very important for us having a completely new team we need to try out the mechanisms and work out any kinks in the way we work. I'm rather satisfied. We really tried everything on a track which is certainly not one of our favourites.
“The lap times were good, considering the fact that I wasn't pushing for maximum performance, but I was looking for a set-up which will allow us to be fast over the long distance. In any case, the race will put us to a hard test.
“Our rivals have shown speed and consistency, so we will really have to fight tooth and nail right from the beginning of the season to aim for a good result.”
Biaggi finished third in the 2011 World Superbike Championship standings after skipping three rounds through injury.
