Gresini admits approaching Biaggi

Biaggi is available after parting company with the Suzuki World Superbike team.

"We have talked to see if we were interested in an opportunity like that," Gresini was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It was me looking for him and we exchanged some opinions, with the idea of meeting soon."

Biaggi fell out with the Repsol Honda team in MotoGP at the end of the 2005 after a blazing row at the penultimate race of the season at Istanbul, when a dismal qualifying session left him starting 12th.

The Italian then discussed switching to Kawasaki for the 2006 MotoGP season, but it became apparent that Bridgestone would not supply an extra bike with its tyres.

Biaggi subsequently spent a year out of the sport in 2006, before acquiring the ride in World Superbikes this year.

Many paddock insiders believe that the Italian will never ride a Honda ever again after the Istanbul row, but Gresini played this down.

"We'll face this matter later on, since at the moment there's only been a preliminary chat on the phone and nothing else," he was quoted as saying by La Stampa.

"Honda apart, each of us must now think about our own business and evaluate the opportunity. This start is useful only to me and to Biaggi in order to understand whether it could be done or not; we'll see about the rest.

"We have a fine relationship with Honda, and with Bridgestone I have a contract until the end of 2008 and and option for 2009.

"In my opinion Max is a great champion. He's won a lot in his career and he's also lost, but he has done everything he should and could do. In my opinion he can still go very quick in MotoGP."

Gresini added that it was important any further discussions with Biaggi were conducted quickly.

"What's certain is that, with the first tests starting immediately after the last race of the season in Valencia, we'll certainly have to take the first decisions before the last Grand Prix of the year," he said.