Suzuki had an indifferent season in the 2008 MotoGP Championship, struggling to make any particular ground on the “big three” factory teams of Honda, Yamaha and Ducati despite some impressive results in Germany, the USA and the Czech Republic but the Japanese factory have been extremely active in the off-season, having just finished a wind-tunnel experiment in Hamamatsu.

Capirossi and Vermeulen will be visiting the 4,448m Australian circuit as part of a private test - along with Kawasaki’s MotoGP team - while the remainder of the MotoGP paddock will be at Jerez in Spain and the pair will be joined by Suzuki test Rider Nobuatsu Aoki for the three day test

“This will be a very important test for us as we will be able to see where we are at the moment for next year,” said Vermeulen. “Suzuki has been working really hard since the last test at Valencia and we will have lots of new parts to try out at Phillip Island.

“We have just done some wind tunnel testing in Japan and with the data we got there it will be interesting to see what the new aerodynamics will be like.”

Chris Vermeulen added; “It is good to be going to Phillip Island rather than Jerez, because I am sure the weather will be better and we’ll be able to get a lot more work done.

“This is only the second test since the single tyre rule was introduced so it will be interesting to see how the new compound we now have to use performs at a circuit that is always tough on tyres. We have had some problems at Phillip Island, but if we find something that works well there then it will almost certainly work even better at other tracks.”

The six-time World Champion, who was heavily linked with a move to F1 after testing for Ferrari, was back with the Italian supercar marque this week for another testing session, this time to celebrate his world championship and Ferrari’s recent F1 constructor’s success.

Rossi, who has also tried his hand a rally driving in the past week, has made no secret of his interest in other forms of motorsport and told reporters that he could have made it in the four-wheeled Grand Prix event.

“I have nothing to prove, neither to myself nor to others,” Rossi told said after the test.

“I only had a big curiosity to know. Well, I’m more and more convinced that with a bit of time I could have become a good F1 driver. It only remains to be seen how good, whether good enough to win or not.

“So I have no regrets, never had them: I did the right thing with staying in MotoGP, where I win and I hope to carry on winning for a long time.”

He added: “I want to thank Luca di Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali for giving me this huge present. This is a celebration for me and for Ferrari, I longed for it, and I’m very happy to be just halfway through it, as I still have another day.

“Compared to 2005 I’ve found a stronger car, more drivable, with formidable aerodynamics. It’s clear that I’ve tried to go as fast as possible: when you drive a Ferrari you can only go quick, otherwise you stay home.”

Rossi covered a total of 320 km during the first day of the test, setting a fastest time of 1:22.550- 0.85 seconds slower than the fastest time set by former world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

“It’s really nice to be here, celebrating a great season with numerous victories, here at home,” said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali. “Mugello is one of our tracks and also a circuit where Valentino has won several times, winning in some extraordinary races.

“It’s two days of pure fun for us and Vale, although we’re doing serious work; you can see that he prepared himself physically. Vale would have been an excellent Formula One driver, but he chose a different road.

“He’s part of our family and that’s why we wanted to give him this opportunity; we’re happy to be together once again; two Italian symbols like Ferrari and Valentino Rossi.”

The French rider, who struggled with a wrist injury throughout much of last season, has decided to pull out of the opening test in Jerez in order to get back to full fitness ahead of the new season.

Jerez would have afforded de Puniet a first opportunity to test a Bridgestone-shod LCR Honda following the switch from Michelin but that opportunity will now have to wait until Sepang in February.

“I won’t be testing in Jerez, which will be good for me to recover completely,” he confirmed to the official MotoGP website. “I’m wearing a big protective support on my hand and wrist and, although I can’t do some movements with my right hand, the injury is getting better and less painful.

“I need to wear it for two more weeks and then it should be OK. At the moment I am only running and riding, but when I get better I will go back to my usual training like riding motocross and playing squash.”

The set-back hasn’t harmed his ambitions however, with the 27-year-old confident of a good season on Bridgestone tyres.

“My target is to improve consistency in race results. On and off the bike I will work differently to last year; I have the speed, a good team and good tyres as well, and I´m confident of having my best year in MotoGP. That´s my target.”

A number of riders, including current and former world champions Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, have spoken out over the seemingly growing influence of electronic aids such as traction control and engine management in MotoGP, with some going as far as claiming the championship has become “boring” as a result, pointing to a number of processional races seen in 2008.

With a single tyre regulation being brought in to reduce costs and improve safety, many believe that the reigning in of electronic aids is the next item on the agenda for the sports’ promoters.

In an interview with Motosprint, head of MotoGP commercial rights-holder Dorna Carmelo Ezpeleta hinted that the issue of electronics was being discussed, but wholesale changes are not on the agenda for the 2009 season.

“We need to get down to discuss it, as it’s been done in every motor racing series,” he said.

“I’ve asked the manufacturers to look for a solution, to start talking, but we won’t see anything in 2009. We’ll need more time.

“However, regulating electronics will be the next step.”

He did however refute the claims from many top riders that the sport is becoming less exciting, pointing to the early stages of the season when a thrilling title chase looked to be developing between Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo.

“2008 has been a great championship: Valentino, Casey and Dani did incredible things,” said Ezpeleta.

“It must not be thought that Valentino won easily, he made incredible efforts and he won thanks to his genius. And he has shown his genius to the entire world, so this is a spectacle of the highest level. You only need to remember the Laguna Seca race.

“This was a season where Valentino’s strategy counted a lot, and he won because he put Stoner under pressure. And if we add to this Pedrosa, who until mid-season was ahead, the level this year was extremely high. So the title for us has extraordinary value.”

Lorenzo wowed the crowds in the early part of his debut season, with three podiums from the first three races, including a win at Estoril, before injury, stemming from a spectacular high-side in China, and tyre problems led to a series of disappointing results.

However, the 22-year-old managed to retain his composure on the final race of the season in Valencia to claim the Rookie of the Year award.

High expectations have been placed on Lorenzo’s shoulders for 2009 when, following the move to a single tyre rule, he’ll be racing with the same specification bike as teammate and world champion Valentino Rossi, but the youngster insists that there is no pressure to perform as he heads into the new season.

“There have been no objectives set out, and nobody is demanding that we win the title,” he told the official MotoGP website.

“I think that if I can improve my results then it will be an extraordinary season.”

The Spaniard also admitted there is still work to do on the new Yamaha, having tested it for just one day following the end of the season at Valencia.

“I have only had the chance to try the new bike for a day, with the intention of adjusting to the new regulations,” he added.

“The bike isn’t working perfectly, so in Jerez we will be working above all with the chassis, now that we won’t have the engine until Sepang.”

Rossi, who has made no secret of his interest in Rally driving, will take to the circuit in a Ford Focus rally car bearing a special edition livery in support of the BBC charity.

The Yamaha rider has made no secret of his interest in Rally driving,  having driven in a number of rallies in the past and will participate in next month’s Wales Rally GB, a race he crashed out of in 2002.

But that experience has not deterred Rossi from making the move to four wheels, with the 29-year-old still harbouring interests of a rally opportunity.

“Yes, I like rallies very much,” said the Italian, who recently signed a deal with Yamaha until 2010.

“I think it is possible when I finish with bikes,” he added after testing in Cumbria earlier this week. “I have another two years — after that we will see.”

“Given that I can, I will take advantage of the winter to gain experience by racing at least two (rallies).

“It’ll be hard work in Wales - getting up at 4:30, lots of kilometres, maximum concentration all the time,” Rossi added.

“Last week I did some tests in Wales. There was rain, mud, (a temperature of) three degrees. I know it’ll be hard. This time I want to finish.”

The 15-year-old 125cc rider has been named on the 10-strong shortlist for the prestigious gong at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, which takes place at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on December 14.

Redding became the youngest ever rider to win a MotoGP event earlier this year as he took the chequered flag in his home Grand Prix at Donington earlier this year and completed a memorable season by storming to the 125 Rookie of the Year award, finishing 42 points ahead of his nearest rival.

Alongside Redding, the shortlist has a heavy Olympic presence with diver Tom Daley (current holder of the award), swimmer Elizabeth Simmonds, Taekwondo entrant Aaron Cook and paralympic swimming gold medallist Eleanor Simmonds.

Other young athletes include sprinter Shaunna Thompson, 14-year-old Tennis hopeful Laura Robson, canoeist Tom Brady, sailor James Peters and cyclist Sam Harrison.

A panel chaired by BBC Sport presenter John Inverdale met on Monday 10 November to decide on the shortlist of 10.

“I’ve been involved since the award’s inaugural year in 2001,” said Inverdale.

“This year we’ve got the highest quality of contenders across the board I’ve ever known, in my opinion.

“You are looking at people at the top of their trees, and we have left a lot of strong nominations out of the top 10 and we will now have to leave seven out.”

Previous winners of the award include Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Andrew Murray.

The Italian, who joined Ducati last season from Gresini Honda, struggled to get to grips with the GP8 and was quickly shown the door by team bosses after just two top-ten finishes and eight scoreless rounds - more than any other rider in the paddock.

And now Melandri, who has signed with Kawasaki for the new season, has told of how he considered walking away from the sport as his struggled continued.

In a blog update on his official website entitled “Marco´s confessions”, the 26 year-old wrote, “The 2008 season is over. It has been a year in which I have had to learn from my disappointments and I don´t look back with regret because I reached a big turning point in my life in June.

“It was a really hard time and to be honest I even considered walking away from it all. Then one day something clicked and I realised that there were still so many people backing me and believing in me, and that made a big difference to me.”

But Melandri did speak of his optimism over the move to Kawasaki and the new motivation to prove the doubters wrong in 2009.

“Now I am starting to see things differently and I feel really good,” he added. “My work is the biggest passion in my life and I am going to keep giving it everything I´ve got because I enjoy riding so much.

“It is not like I haven´t tried hard this year though, in fact it was the opposite, I did all I could to try and win. But when things are going badly and nothing works like it should there is nothing more you can do.

“One thing I have learned is that you don´t always need to question yourself so much and say “where am I going wrong?”, because it doesn´t always help with looking forward. It just makes you worry more. Sometimes I think you need to let things be and just remind yourself that you are doing the right thing.”

The Italian, who impressed enough in his rookie season to earn a ride with the works Honda team for 2009, is keen to avoid a repeat of the situation at the team last season which saw a difficult relationship between Pedrosa and now-Ducati rider Nicky Hayden.

Hayden, who became increasingly critical of Pedrosa and his representative Alberto Puig, was eventually forced out by management at HRC.

But Dovizioso has moved quickly to deny suggestions that he is planning on becoming a rival to Pedrosa, claiming that his own personal goals are more important.

“To finish ahead of Dani would be important, and I am confident about my chances, but I will be mainly focused on stepping on the podium any time I can, being consistent with my new Honda HRC throughout the season,” Dovizioso told MotoGP.com.

“Dani is a former 125cc and 250cc world champion and a great rider, but first of all he is a good guy, probably even shyer than I am,” he added.

“Maybe this is the reason why we don’t have a great feeling yet, but we will have a lot of time to know each other.”

The Italian, who won his sixth premier-class MotoGP title earlier this season, will drive a Ford Focus RS World Rally car in the event with a dedicated BBC Children in Need livery.

“It’s a tremendous honour to have Valentino Rossi promoting BBC Children in Need,” said Children in Need’s Marc Phillips. “We have had a remarkable response to this year’s event on November 14th - and Wales Rally GB will be a fabulous final flourish for us.

“With a charity auction being held at the Service Park on the Friday night and volunteers collecting throughout the rally, it will be an important few days for us.”

Rossi added: “I’m looking forward to Wales Rally GB – and am hoping for a good result at next weekend’s Monza Rally in order to prepare for the forests.”

“I’m also delighted to be supporting BBC Children in Need, which does such vital work in the UK. It’s a great charity and one I’m very pleased to be involved in.”

Wales Rally GB will take place on 4th-7th December.