Gibernau confirms Barcelona return

The Spanish series returnee had missed Mugello after suffering another collarbone breakage in a practice crash at Le Mans a fortnight earlier.

He admitted that he might be slightly tentative at first, but was confident the injury had now healed sufficiently for him to ride again.

"I'm good. I wouldn't like to say exactly that I'm going to be perfect to ride a MotoGP bike, but we've been working very hard and I feel good," Gibernau told the official MotoGP website.

"I've got the plate inside and I feel more comfortable with a plate than without, it's been so many years... I feel good, so right now I'm just looking forward to the first practice session and to enjoying the grand prix. It's very special for all of us and I can't wait to jump on the bike."

Gibernau is making a comeback this year with the new Francisco Hernando Ducati team after two years in retirement.

He has been plagued by collarbone injuries since a massive first corner tangle at Barcelona in 2006. Another break followed at the end of the season, and he then aggravated the old injury in pre-season training this year before breaking the bone in a new place when he crashed at Le Mans.