The World Superbike paddock has been swamped by rumours regarding the Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki Team supposedly stepping up to MotoGP.

These rumours have been further inflamed by Paul Denning, team manager of Rizla Suzuki MotoGP, being spotted in the World Superbike paddock at Silverstone.

Dissention in the World Superbike ranks kicked off over proposed 1200cc twin-cylinder rules which look likely to come into action for 2008. The Alstare Corona Extra team have voiced their concerns over these rules and have expressed an interest in moving to the MotoGP class should they come into effect. With former MotoGP star Max Biaggi in their ranks, Alstare already has access to a leading grand prix rider for such a project.

Francis Batta, who runs the Alstare team, was instrumental in bringing in Corona as the title sponsor to the World Superbike championship - if Alstare leave it would be a major blow to a paddock that they are very much a key part of.

It is well known that MotoGP rights holder's Dorna are keen to see an increase in grid numbers and Suzuki hero Kevin Schwantz has been mooted as the man to front a second GSV-R effort. Could it be that the Alstare team will move to MotoGP with Schwantz at the helm?

Denning, who is doing a superb job of running the factory Suzuki MotoGP team, was seen in the Silverstone WSBK paddock and is perhaps paving the way for a new Suzuki tie-up in the premier class.

Additional Suzukis on the grid in MotoGP would also aid development, but would Batta want to move up to MotoGP if he was to run a secondary effort? And likewise would Biaggi want to do the same?

It costs much more to race in GPs than it does to sustain a World Superbike team, but Alstare has an excellent relationship with Corona and might well tempt the company to move with them.

At the moment nothing has been confirmed and it is currently rumour, hearsay and general speculation that tends to appear in the paddock mid-season. It may also be aimed at building pressure on Ducati over the 1200cc rules just a few days before the unofficial deadline for a decision. Time will tell...