World Superbikes: Max Biaggi breaks wrist in 170mph crash

Max Biaggi saw his title campaign take a massive blow after two uncharacteristic crashes left him with no points and a badly broken left radius bone in his wrist in Phillip Island.

After being the only man to live with Ducati’s Troy Bayliss at Qatar, Biaggi’s nightmare weekend started when he broke his gearlever in Superpole and had to start the two races in 16th place on the grid.

Max Biaggi had once again looked like the only man capable of matching Bayliss’ awesome race pace but the Italian pushed too hard at MG corner when he lost the front in race one and then again at the superfast Turn One in race two at over 170mph.

Biaggi said: “The problem with starting from 16th on the grid was that I had to overtake riders continuously and push so hard.

“In the first race I just lost the front at MG corner. In the second one I braked very hard and the rear of the bike whipped sideways and threw me off the side of the bike.”

Biaggi was lucky to avoid more serious injury when the Ducati 1098RS came dangerously close to bouncing on top of him as it cart-wheeled out of control. 

The Sterilgarda Ducati rider was treated at the track by the Clinica Mobile where he was diagnosed with a broken wrist.

He is expected to be in cast for 21 days but is expected to be fit for the Valencia race at the beginning of April.

See more reaction from Phillip Island in this week’s MCN, out Wednesday, March 5, 2008.