Chatter leaves Biaggi speechless.

If Max Biaggi thought that returning to one of his most successful circuits would mark a change of fortune for the Repsol Honda rider, he was left sorely disappointed after the same chatter problems that have haunted him all season resulted in him lapping slower than one year ago.

Biaggi, who won the 2004 German Grand Prix from pole position, finished the morning session in fifth and the afternoon session seventh after struggling with front end chatter under braking.

"What can I say? Of course I come here with high expectations. I have done a good job here before and I really like the track. It holds no secrets for me. It suits my style and after the hard season so far - except for Mugello when it all felt good straight from the first practice session - I had real high hopes for the race here. But it is not good," he confessed.

"The bike has chatter, it hops and I am not able to make a good lap. I know the conditions are different but I am nearly 0.5secs slower here on the factory bike at the end of the first day than I was here last year," he confirmed. "I hope the team can come up with something as I know I am giving 100% and I know that is all I can give."

Team manager Makoto Tanaka admitted that Biaggi's Sachsenring problems are the same as he's suffered all season - indicating that, after three months and nine races, the might of HRC's factory team have failed to find a solution.

"Max seems to be suffering from the same problems that have plagued him all season," he said. "That is the feeling from the front of his machine under braking and the stability in this area. We are working very hard with him in this area as we know what he can do at this circuit given the correctly set-up equipment."