Max Biaggi has admired the bikes with which Valentino Rossi won his nine titles. Yamaha and Honda MotoGPs, the Aprilia 125 and 250s, all strictly two-stroke, alongside the NSR 500, the first steed with which #46 battled his fellow countryman.

And for Max, the memories come flooding back: "When I was racing in 250, I’d often see riders strapped up along pit lane, with plaster on their arm or leg. Making the move from 250 to 500 was almost scary, although I immediately got on well. Few people could take the bike to the limit, few stood out, and that’s why it inspired fear. Those who moved up to 500 were considered heroes”.

You could feel the difference compared to the other bikes: "The 500 would either even you out or destroy you. When I rode it at Phillip Island, the bike would wheelie even in sixth gear, it was so crazy powerful. But after just two tests, I was already going well. The combination of 250 and Dunlop tyres was comparable to the Michelin-shod 500. I was quick, I felt comfortable in the saddle”.

Biaggi amassed six world titles throughout his career, four in 250 and two in Superbike. And yet the greatest emotions came with the 500: "The delivery curve was insane, the scream of the engine would get you high, the rear wheel sliding… certain dynamics will never be repeated, it would be difficult to experience those sensations with four-stroke bikes".

Rivalry with Rossi and shared paths

Biaggi raced at international level for 22 years, coming across many strong and charismatic rivals. When Rossi arrived in the 500 class in 2000, the bar was raised once more: "To have had a rival like Rossi meant it felt even better when I was able to beat him. And vice versa, the fact I battled with him boosted his reputation”.

The fact they are both Italian only heightened the tension. The cover image is from 2001: "Both Italian, there was a real rivalry. But other riders also contributed to making Rossi’s career even greater, riders like Casey Stoner, Marc Marquez. Valentino’s path was important with relation to mine".

And then comes the best comment of the article, touched upon in the title and now better explained, giving sense to the piece: "And now Valentino Rossi is retiring, it’s like a part of me goes too. Yes, a part of me retires with him and this makes me sad".

Translated by Heather Watson

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