Biaggi next to join WSBK?

Unable to find a ride in MotoGP for the coming season, Max Biaggi appears set to join the stream of riders looking at the rejuvenated World Superbike Championship as a means of continuing or boosting their careers.

Alex Barros, Roberto Rolfo, Troy Bayliss and Ruben Xaus have all decided to pursue WSBK offers for 2006 and, with no openings on the horizon following the loss of his Repsol Honda ride, the Roman Emperor appears set to follow suit after 14 years in the various grand prix classes.

Having managed to retain the backing of tobacco brand Camel, the Italian is being linked to a possible role with the Alstare Suzuki team, where he could link up with defending champion Troy Corser. Camel has openly admitted that it has been unable to find the 34-year old a ride in MotoGP, but has stopped short of confirming a likely move to WSBK.

In a statement issued shortly before Christmas, Camel criticised Honda for what it considered an 'unacceptable' veto which prevented Biaggi from riding for the Honda Pons team, a depth of feeling that eventually led to the sponsor from dropping its relationship with Pons and triggering the Spanish team's withdrawal from the MotoGP series.

Four times a champion in the 'junior' 250cc class, Biaggi has a decent record in the top flight, even if he has been largely eclipsed by compatriot - and bitter rival - Valentino Rossi. The Roman entered the premier class in 1998 and has since taken 13 race wins and 58 podiums, but failed to find top spot for the previously invincible Repsol Honda team in 2005. As a result, he finished only fifth in points, having claimed overall runners-up honours with Honda in 1998 and with Yamaha in both 2001-02.

"There was nowhere for me to go, I thought I'd have to retire," Biaggi was quoted as saying by Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper, "I wanted to carry on racing at the highest possible level and World Superbikes is the only chance I have."

One possible spanner in the works could be provided by the rumoured deal between Camel and Yamaha, which Crash.net understands, could see the cigarette brand backing the factory Yamaha squad, which split with previous sponsor Gauloises at the end of 2005.

Rossi and American team-mate Colin Edwards are set to continue with the team, leaving no room for Biaggi even if he would countenance partnering Rossi. The 'Doctor', however, is rumoured to want to avoid a potential sponsor clash with Marlboro, which backs the Ferrari F1 team he is currently testing for, and Gauloises apparently has a clause in its Yamaha deal that prevents the factory team from switching to a direct competitor for backing, narrowing Camel's options in MotoGP still further.

However, should Yamaha and Camel link up, Biaggi could still move to the WSBK under the Japan Tobacco umbrella, as Camel's sister brand, Winston, backs the front-running Ten Kate team, which saw lead rider Chris Vermuelen leave for MotoGP at the end of last season...