Ducati want Davies as test rider

Davies had a two day test at Mugello this week on a 2008 Ducati MotoGP bike. He had been offered the opportunity after standing in at thirty minutes' notice for the injured Alex Hofmann in the satellite Pramac d'Antin squad at the US GP at Laguna Seca in July, and making an instant impression upon observers.

Suppo then heard of Davies' exploits when battling against championship leader Casey Stoner in the British Aprilia Challenge Cup in 2000, which saw Davies beat Stoner in some races alongside Leon Camier.

Itoh currently is a Bridgestone test rider, but works alongside Vittoriano Gaureschi, the actual Ducati Corse tester.

"I would really like to have him as a test rider next year, replacing Itoh," said Suppo.

"It would be really good to have him in a professional team alongside our engineers and mechanics."

The Ducati boss said a year of testing would prepare Davies well for any racing opportunities that arose in 2009.

"The experience on the bike would be good for him, and have him in a prime position for 2009," said Suppo.

"You know being a test rider is no bad thing, just look at (Fernando) Alonso in F1; he was a tester at Renault before he got the full-time drive, but the trouble is that racers want to go racing."