Honda would not veto Biaggi return

Satellite Honda team boss Fausto Gresini revealed in Malaysia that he had approached Biaggi after learning that he had parted from the Alstare Suzuki World Superbike squad.

Biaggi has not raced in MotoGP since an acrimonious split with the works Honda team at the end of 2005.

Many believed that the breakdown in relations had been so severe that Honda would never allow Biaggi to ride for one of their teams again, and the potential for a Honda veto was considered to be the biggest stumbling block when news of the Gresini talks broke.

But Fiorani, Biaggi's former team boss at Repsol Honda and now in charge at Honda Racing Europe, said that the 2005 arguments were history and would not be a factor in Gresini's negotiations.

"Biaggi back to Honda? Why not, there's nothing strange with that," he told Italia1 television.

"The people who worked with him when he was at Honda are not there anymore, but it's normal. But from Honda's side there's never been a veto or a time when someone threw him out explicitly."

Fiorani expects the discussions to proceed quickly.

"There has been a preliminary contact, now we have to wait a few more days," he said. "From one side there's a request of availability, from the other there's an open door. Decisions will be taken rapidly."

Gresini have already signed 250cc rider Alex de Angelis for next season, and Fiorani believes Biaggi would complement him well, and would have no difficulty in switching back from Superbikes.

"At Gresini, with a young rider like de Angelis, an expert one could be useful," he said. "With his riding style and the way he has done in Superbike, Max can do well and fight."

Fausto Gresini has confirmed that the team have ended negotiations with current rider Toni Elias.

"The proposal we had to match was too high, so there's no need to even wait for the contractual 10 days to give a reply," Gresini told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Elias is expected to sign for the Pramac D'Antin Ducati team alongside Sylvain Guintoli.

Gresini's present lead rider Marco Melandri will join champion Casey Stoner at Ducati next year.