Bridgestone sinks Biaggi deal?

Max Biaggi's chances of a 2006 Kawasaki MotoGP ride are reported to have ended after the team's tyre supplier, Bridgestone, refused to support any additional riders.

The Roman, left jobless after being replaced by Dani Pedrosa at Repsol Honda and then prevented by HRC from joining any other RCV running outfit, had nevertheless managed to maintain Camel backing - which in turn looked set to secure him a third seat at Kawasaki, alongside Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet.

Biaggi was hoping to announce his new ride at the Bologna Motor Show later this week, but Britain's Motor Cycle News states that - while Kawasaki, Camel and Biaggi had all but agreed a deal - Bridgestone has now sunk the third ZX-RR project after refusing to supply the extra tyres needed.

"The problem is the tyre situation from Bridgestone," Kawasaki team manager Harald Eckl told MCN. "They have already made their plans for 2006 and weren't willing to change to enable us to run a third bike for Biaggi. The negotiations had been going well and, to be honest, I have to admit that I did not consider the tyres would be the problem.

"I was very enthusiastic to have Max with Kawasaki, despite all the potential problems we faced. I had a lot of discussions with Max and I had a feeling we could have made it work... Max is still one of the world's best riders and he is still a big name. He could have really helped Kawasaki and accelerated development of our bike."

Eckl added that Biaggi was "incredibly upset" when he was told of Bridgestone's refusal - which in turn rules out any chance of a third Suzuki ride. With former employer Yamaha having already ruled out re-signing Biaggi, d'Antin Ducati, WCM and Team Roberts are the only teams with 2006 seats still potentially available for the 13-times 500cc/MotoGP winner.

"When I spoke to him it was obvious to me that Max was very disappointed," added Eckl. "I think it finally dawned on him just how serious his situation has become. He just kept telling me that he couldn't believe it. I had to tell him that it is now virtually impossible to find a solution that would let him ride for us in 2006. I don't think he ever considered the fact that we wouldn't find a solution."

Should Biaggi indeed be forced to retire from grand prix racing, Camel is expected to return to the Honda Pons team as title sponsor for its new rider line-up of Casey Stoner and Carlos Checa.