Gibernau continues Ducati testing
Added on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Gibernau has been tipped to replace Marco Melandri (above).
Sete Gibernau looks to be even closer to a return to MotoGP after two more days of testing for Ducati in Mugello.
The Spaniard, who retired from racing in 2006, has been widely linked with a return to MotoGP with the Ducati team to replace the underperforming Marco Melandri after being involved in a series of tests of the Desmosedici GP8 and GP9.
The latest three-day test in Italy saw the 35-year-old record a best time of 1´50.5 on board the GP8 wearing race tyres, just a few tenths off this year´s race record at Mugello set by Casey Stoner and on the last day, Gibernau clocked a time of 1:48.9 on qualifying tyres - a time which would have placed him 7th on the starting grid for this year’s Italian Grand Prix.
Gibernau did suffer a crash in the latter stages of the final day but afterwards spoke of his satisfaction from the three days and suggested that his link with Ducati could continue.
“It has been great trying again qualifying tyres after almost two years,” Gibernau told the official MotoGP website, “But the most important thing is that the feeling with the bike in race trim was perfect almost straight away. Despite the crash it has been a very positive test. I wish to thank again Ducati for the chance of riding again the MotoGP.
“We will see together whether and how there will be the chance to continue our cooperation. Today I have experienced again the thrill of a crash and I’m fine. I have decided together with Filippo not to ride tomorrow just because we are satisfied already with the good job we did in two days.”
