News through to the 'Soup hotline today from our Euro news-hounds suggest that Max Biaggi's sabbatical from Grand Prix racing may end soon, with the possible signing of a Ducati contract for 2007.

Word has it that while Loris Capirossi and A.N. Other will ride the new 800cc factory bikes for the official works team, two satellite specification '07 Desmosedici machines will be made available, with four-time 250cc GP champion Biaggi touted as one of the riders.

With Max seemingly all out of luck with the Japanese manufacturers, and with Sito Pons historically linked to HRC, Biaggi could well find a home with his fellow countrymen. Pons is apparently in talks to return to the grid next year (with Honda), although rumors are rife, and no stable news is available at present.

And, to make the story more interesting, and maybe even bizzare, one of our sources is suggesting that four-time WSBK champion Carl Fogarty may be in line to provide a team structure for a second-string Ducati outfit, sponsorship and politics permitting.

Fogarty has long been part of the Ducati family, for obvious reasons, and should the Blackburn Bullet find the necessary backing to fund a whole season in MotoGP (with help from Dorna), then Biaggi would prove an able foil, as Max has a reputation for attracting his own sponsorship to swell the coffers; Biaggi is a commercial magnet.

Fogarty has also been linked of late with a possible deal to run a team in the British Superbike championship, again, sponsorship dependent. The ever stoic Fogarty was seen talking to several members of the paddock hierachy at last month's British Grand Prix at Donington Park.

The Foggy Petronas World Superbike dream is almost at an end, with the Malaysian backed outfit in their last year with the FG Sport production based series.

If you remember, we reported earlier this season that Dorna were allegedly considering asking each factory to supply four machines for 2007. That option looked likely as only the main body of manufacturers would be able to fund, in principle, a design and development project for the new upper engine capacity ruling (800cc).

That seemingly ruled out the likes of WCM, KTM, and even BMW. It is uncertain at this stage if Team Roberts will be able to sign another leasing contract with Honda for customer engines next year as early reports seem to indicate that HRC may run just four bikes -- under their own steam -- with maybe one true satellite team/engine supply added.

If Biaggi gets it done, with or without Fogarty, Pons or even Luis D'antin, he would get to ride a machine that in early development anyway, would not differ too greatly from the full factory bikes.

Remember the rumormill rules: until it's done, it isn't done, simple.

Buuut ...Biaggi and Fogarty together? Say how many ego's can you fit in one garage?