Max Biaggi could make a return to the MotoGP paddock as a test rider for Aprilia should the drugs charges against Andrea Iannone turn out for the worst.

The self-styled Corsair, who is a multiple world champion on two and four-stroke machinery, has been confirmed as a plan B for the upcoming Sepang test alongside Bradley Smith as Aprilia introduce the new RS-GP20.

Biaggi recently did three days' testing with the firms RSV4-X Superbike and said, modestly, 'Unfortunately, I am still fast'. Oooooo, hark at her...

There is also some talk of former Aprilia WorldSBK rider Lorenzo Savadori getting a spin as his deal with Pedercini is looking shaky by all accounts.

MotoGP exile Karel Abraham is pinning his hopes in Iannone being banned as that might give him a way back from the boonies. The Czech rider can take a decent pile of money to the team and every little helps.

Meanwhile, the FIM has still not released official details of Iannone's B-sample test even though his lawyer has told the world he failed it but only small amounts of the banned substance were seen.

Cal Crutchlow has drawn up the same plan as Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso, preferring to make a retirement decision after a few races of this season. The little Isle of Man, er, man says he can extend his deal with LCR for as long as he wants and is sure that HRC are keen to keep him in the fold...

Yamaha have managed to get back their best chassis engineer from his role designing three-wheel Nikens to sort out the M1's grip problems for upcoming seasons. Kazuhisa Takano had been a part of the MotoGP programme but, as is usual with Japanese firms, he was rotated out to a different area of the business. But now he's back, from outer space, we just walked in to find him here with that sad look upon his face...