Max Biaggi has quit leading World Superbike team Alstare Suzuki, giving rise to speculation that he could return to Moto GP next year.

Alstare were facing a crisis anyway with the announcement last month that beer manufacturer Corona were withdrawing their backing for the team after nine years as title sponsor, and it seems that worries over how to pay the 36-year-old Italian's wages were central to his departure.

Team boss Francis Batta said: "With reference to the current situation Team Alstare is facing regarding sponsorship, it is with regret and sadness that the team announces that it will not renewing its contract with Max Biaggi for 2008.

"Suzuki and Team Alstare would like to thank Max Biaggi for his great performances and results achieved during the 2007 season, and also for his technical contribution.

"Suzuki and Team Alstare would like to wish Max Biaggi all the best for the future."

Biaggi, a four-time 250cc world champion, joined Alstare at the start of the season following a sabbatical year after his ousting from Moto GP.

A win on his championship debut in Qatar propelled him into a title challenge, but saw him ultimately defeated by both Britain's James Toseland and Japan's Noriyuki Haga.

The announcement comes a day after Moto GP team boss Fausto Gresini admitted approaching Biaggi, a 13-time race-winner, about returning to the championship next year after two seasons away.

"We have spoken to see if we were interested in an opportunity like that," Gresini told Italian spors daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

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

Any deal for Biaggi to partner Alex de Angelis in the team next year would depend on current rider Toni Elias taking his Spanish sponsors to d'Antin Ducati and Honda backing down on their intent to keep Shinya Nakano on one of their machines.

It remains to be seen whether Biaggi would even be prepared to return to a Honda team such as Gresini's following a famous fall-out with the Japanese manufacturer after a disastrous qualifying session at the 2005 Turkish Grand Prix.

Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport