Max Biaggi's conversion to superbike rider appears set to be completed with a move to the champion Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team that took Troy Coser to the 2005 WSBK title.

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While news of the Italian's code switch comes as no surprise, his destination for the coming season is moreso, especially given that he ws expected to be helped in his move by long-time personal backer Japan Tobacco. The Suzuki team, however, rides in direct competition with the Ten Kate squad that enjoys support from JTI brand Winston.

The first hint that Biaggi could link up with Corser this year came when the FIM issued an initial draft of the 2006 entry list, complete with a fourth vacancy at Francois Batta's squad, alongside those at Klaffi Honda and Kawasaki Corse.

Now, Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta de la Sport claims that a deal has been struck between Batta and Biaggi, which will see the 'Roman Emperor' turning his first superbike wheel at the impending Australian test session next week.

The move comes as something of a surprise as Biaggi had always maintained that he would have nothing to do with superbikes, but the Italian has since been pushed into something of a corner following Honda's refusal to support him in MotoGP. Although possible tie-ups with otehr teams, including Kawasaki, were mooted before the end of 2005, nothing came to fruition until Blatta beckoned.

Biaggi is expected at Phillip Island ahead of the test, in order to get used to his new team, before linking up with 2006 team-mates Corser, Yukio Kagayama and Fabien Foret to prepare for the opening round of the season, in Qatar, in late February.

According to the reports, Biaggi will run with the number 30 on his bike this year, as his traditional #3 plate has already been allocated to another MotoGP convert, Norick Abe.

Biaggi joins Troy Bayliss, Roberto Rolfo and Ruben Xaus have already made the move from MotoGP to WSBK for this season, while Alex Barros is tipped to fill the vacant Klaffi Honda seat.