Gibernau to test for Ducati

The 35-year-old Spaniard will ride alongside Ducati's official test rider Vittoriano Guareschi for three days at the Italian Grand Prix venue to assist the team's development programme with both the current GP8 and the 2009 bike that made its debut in post-race testing in Spain earlier this week.

"I'm honoured by this possibility that Ducati has given me," said Gibernau. "I'm very excited and I'm in perfect shape, even if it has been a while since I have been on a GP bike.

"It is just a test but I'll give my absolute maximum. I can't wait to enjoy once again the feeling of bringing a MotoGP machine to its limit."

Gibernau decided to step away from the sport at the end of an injury-blighted season with Ducati in 2006, but he returned to the paddock at last weekend's Catalunya race.

"We were happy to see Sete so excited at the possibility of riding a MotoGP bike again, and it was this enthusiasm that led to the possibility of organising this test together," said team director Filippo Preziosi.

"The tests we carried out with the GP9 in Catalunya earlier this week gave good feedback and, by having Sete and Vito testing alongside each other, we will be able to carry out a wide range of more intensive tests with our GP8 and GP9 machines."

Ducati will also be in action at Czech GP track Brno test week, where 20-year-old Superstock 1000 champion Niccolo Canepa will spend three days testing for Bridgestone at the recently-resurfaced circuit.

Canepa had previously appeared for Ducati at Catalunya this week, where he was an impressive sixth fastest on the second day.