OWN CORRESPONDENT, Welkom | Thursday 1.30pm.
ITALY’S Max Biaggi is confident of repeating his success in the South African Grand Prix when the race opens the 2000 world motorcycling championship on Sunday.
Biaggi led from start to finish in last year’s 500cc race at the Phakisa Freeway circuit and says he is happy to be back.
The Phakisa track, still a relative newcomer on the the Grand Prix circuit, was criticised by many riders last year for its lack of grip.
”I feel fine about Welkom,” said Biaggi. ”It’s a good track for me. Maybe our bike works well there but don’t forget I was the only Yamaha rider in the top four last year, the rest were all Hondas.”
Biaggi failed to win another race last season after his success in South Africa. He and Yamaha have spent the past four months refining changes to his YZR500 motorcycle and have improved the braking stability.
Spain’s Carlos Checa, Biaggi’s team mate, believes he can erase the memory of a frustrating 1999 season with a good performance in Welkom.
”I don’t want another season like last year,” said the 27-year-old Checa, who looked uneasy last season on his comeback from a horrific accident in 1998.
Checa’s younger brother David will make his world championship debut in the 250cc class for the Honda team.
This will be the first year since 1988 without Australian Mick Doohan on the starting grid. The five-times 500cc world champion announced his retirement in December after repeated surgery following a big crash in Spain in May. — Reuters