Motorsport story by Vinnie Mitchell, Thu, 19 Jan 2006 17:44:00 GMT


LONDON - Max Biaggi has completed testing the MidlandF1 car at the Silverstone Grand Prix race circuit on Wednesday afternoon. Biaggi was delighted to have finished the testing. The former MotoGP star has denied that he was signing up with the Alstare Corona Suzuki team in this season.

Biaggi, who left Honda last year said, "I've read, with a bit of irony, that I would have signed a contract for the 2006 season with Suzuki Corona, even two days ago - this thing shocked me." However, he did reveal on his website that he was open to proposals, "Surely if a concrete proposal arrived I would be happy to consider it," Biaggi, a four-time 250cc world champion was quoted as saying on www.max-biaggi.com.

Currently, the MidlandF1 team is at Silverstone and is testing out the new V8 plant from Toyota in conjunction with their drivers. Besides Biaggi, Tiago Monteiro and Christijan Albers were also present at Silverstone. Biaggi said that the offer to turn up for Midland was presented to him about a month ago, "The phone rang and they offered me the possibility," he confirmed.

"The possibility was to make this happen was given to me one month ago, I had a think about it and then I decided, why not? I took the chance and now I know the track." The Italian star said that this was his first time on the Silverstone circuit.

"The last time when I drove a car was five years ago with the Ferrari – and my feeling was completely different of course. it was a long time ago," he commented. "Here was wet but five years ago was completely dry."

Biaggi said that he enjoyed his outing even though it was a wet day on the circuit, "I got a good feeling with the car. I didn't push myself to the limit because it was not the best day to do it but it was a nice emotion again to go back in Formula One," he said. "At the moment it is too early to say, very early, but I don't close any doors about these opportunities."

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