ROMAN EMPEROR Max Biaggi has been crowned the 2010 World Superbike Champion.
The Italian clinched the prestigious 2010 title at the weekend's Imola WSB event, after championship rival Leon Haslam's Suzuki GSXR-1000 suffered an engine failure in Race Two.
Biaggi, riding an Aprilia RSV4, scored an 11th in Race One and a 5th in Race Two.
Speaking about his new world title, Biaggi, a former 250cc World Champion, said:
Max Biaggi: "I'm so happy, it's a big emotion through all my body. This is fantastic. It's like a dream come true, I never stopped to dream to make it happen. It was always in my mind. In fair conditions I expected it myself, OK this year we at Aprilia did a good job, there are tough riders out there, I don't want to take anything away from them, some are more consistent than others but they are all fast and this championship is very competitive. I had so many problems in race 1, off the track, on the track, the bike sideways but I didn't crash. It was very tough, for sure we didn't get the best set-up here at Imola, it's not an easy track but I never stopped to try. In race 2 we changed the bike and I attacked from the first lap. This is a really great day for me, for all my team, for Aprilia Alitalia, my sponsors, everyone who supported us to make this dream come true. We really made it happen."
2010 WSB Championship Standings: Imola
Max Biaggi Aprilia 413 - 2010 Champion
Leon Haslam Suzuki 350
Jonathan Rea Honda 288
Carlos Checa Ducati 274
Cal Crutchlow Yamaha 239
Noriyuki Haga Ducati 238
James Toseland Yamaha 187
Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki 184
Michel Fabrizio Ducati 169
Troy Corser BMW 165
Leon Camier Aprilia 164
Shane Byrne Ducati 154
