Gibernau not ruling out MotoGP return

The Spaniard will be back in MotoGP action for the first time since he retired at the end of 2006, carrying out a three-day programme with the Italian squad alongside test rider Vittoriano Guareschi.

"At the moment they are letting me ride once again and that's a reason to be proud," Gibernau, a nine-time race winner, told AS newspaper.

"Ducati want me to test the bike and then we'll see what happens. I will ride this year's bike and next year's too to see the feeling. I won't be testing thinking of anything, just to see where I stand."

He added: "I will try to give Ducati whatever I can during those three days of testing, but they know that I have been retired for two years. I don't think they depend on me to move forward with their project.

"I just want to enjoy this opportunity I'm getting and then when the test finishes I might as well decide to never ride a MotoGP bike again or to start looking for a team to come back.

"We'll see where I stand. Mi first rival will be myself, not even Guareschi, with whom I will be sharing the track. And I will end up where I'm most happy, at home or on the track again."

The 35-year-old, who spent his last year in the sport with the Ducati team, visited the Barcelona race last Sunday, but he admitted he never thought of the chance to test again.

"I swear that when I went to Montmelo for the race last weekend it was as a tourist, but I was welcomed well, they opened a lot of doors for me and I was proud of it," he added.