Although unable to match Toseland's relentless points haul, Biaggi had followed up his dream Qatar debut with one podium at each of the next four rounds, keeping him in second position until his first home round as a WSBK rider, held at Monza in Italy.

It was an emotional homecoming for Biaggi, although on paper he faced his biggest challenge yet - Monza being the first circuit Biaggi hadn't previously raced at in MotoGP. Third and fifth for Max was a creditable performance on a day when all - including Toseland - were blown away by Noriyuki Haga.

Nitro Nori suffered a quiet start to the season, and was initially in the shadow of new team-mate Corser, but took his first podium of the year at Phillip Island race two, then his first win when Toseland retired at Donington Park. However, Monza was a breakthrough weekend for the popular Japanese, who dominated both races to snatch second in the points from Biaggi, while the ever-present Toseland took 4-2 finishes.

With seven rounds to go, the championship standings read; Toseland, Haga (-35), Biaggi (-38) and Bayliss (-65) - the same order as the eventual final world championship classification, but there was plenty of drama still to come.

Despite his early season injury, and lack of top speed relative to the four-cylinders, Bayliss typically refused to admit defeat and provided hope of a miracle comeback with a three-race mid-season win streak, which began in the pouring rain of Silverstone.

Toseland fell during the downpour, remounting to secure eight precious points before race two was cancelled due to the appalling weather. Bayliss admitted it was the right decision, but also that the potential loss of 25 points was the last thing he needed.

Nevertheless, Troy stormed to his only double victory of the year at the 'new' Misano next time out, while Toseland paid the price for a lack of testing at the reversed circuit - limiting him to a subdued fourth and sixth. It could have been much worse had Biaggi not taken out Haga in race one, an incident that would prove costly at the end of the season…

Bayliss had left Misano second in the points and just 21 from Toseland, but the Briton responded by emerging from his three race 'slump' with a podium, and victory return, next time out in the Czech Republic. Brno ace Biaggi may have pipped Toseland in the second race, when the Italian took an overdue second win of the year, but Bayliss suffered a nightmare weekend - being taken out while tenth in race one then managing just sixth in race two.

That demoted Troy back behind Biaggi and Haga in the championship standings and the great Australian's hopes of securing a third world title in 2007 where effectively extinguished next time out at Brands Hatch...