Biaggi applauded by Repsol Honda.
Max Biaggi saw the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix as little more than a nightmare - but the Roman was boosted by a gesture from his new Repsol Honda team as he returned to the pits after rising from 17th on lap one to seventh at the chequered flag despite his 'chattering' machine.
"In Jerez, when I entered the pit after the race everybody acclaimed, clapping their hands. It was fantastic! It meant that my entire team was on the bike with me and every one of them understood how hard it was from the first to the final lap," said Max.
Max Biaggi saw the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix as little more than a nightmare - but the Roman was boosted by a gesture from his new Repsol Honda team as he returned to the pits after rising from 17th on lap one to seventh at the chequered flag despite his 'chattering' machine.
"In Jerez, when I entered the pit after the race everybody acclaimed, clapping their hands. It was fantastic! It meant that my entire team was on the bike with me and every one of them understood how hard it was from the first to the final lap," said Max.
"I left Spain hoping to have paid off my due to bad luck or whatever it was," added the former four-times 250cc world champion. "I go to Portugal united with my team more than ever, with only one common goal: be main actors again. In Estoril we must solve all our question marks. I'm sure this is possible.
"I trust completely HRC. We are very motivated and the first race, even if so difficult, didn't discourage us. I like the Portuguese circuit; there I rode some great races. Believe me, I never wanted so badly to be part of the game like now," he concluded.
Meanwhile, team-mate Nicky Hayden's Jerez weekend went in the opposite direction; up front during qualifying, the American then ran with Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau early in Sunday's race, before falling from a safe third with 7 laps to go.
"After crashing out of the first race I'm happy we can get back on the bike quickly and put Jerez behind us," he admitted. "It's hard to look at positives so soon after such a knock but the team are really strong and we are super-determined. There is a really good spirit with my guys.
"I gave my thumb a bit of a knock when I fell which I hope will be fine when I get on the bike on Friday for the first free practice. It's not the first time I've hit it around!" he smiled.
"I missed the race last year as I broke my shoulder (on a Supermoto bike) just before it so I haven't got a huge amount of experience round the track there but that won't stop us from coming out strong as soon as the weekend starts."
