Sete Gibernau concludes second 'comeback' test for Ducati by setting very impressive lap times at Mugello, but what happens now?
Sete Gibernau seems to have convinced Ducati that he still has what it takes to be a competitive MotoGP rider after crowning his second three-day 'comeback' test for the Italian factory with a best lap less than half-a-second slower than world champion Casey Stoner's official lap record.
Gibernau, who retired from MotoGP at the end of 2006 after losing his Ducati seat to Stoner, clocked up around 800kms during the second test. The Spaniard initially worked with the next year's carbon-fibre framed GP9, then the current GP8, before finishing with a final exit on the GP9 for a 'back to back' comparison.
The 35-year-old former double MotoGP World Championship runner-up made repeated runs of 4 or 5 laps and proved he had lost none of his fitness by lapping consistently in the low 1min 51secs range, despite air temperatures of over 30°C and track temperatures exceeding 50°C.
Sete had clocked a best lap time of 1min 51.7secs during his June test for Ducati, offered after an informal meeting at the Catalan Grand Prix, but set a very impressive 1min 50.5secs - with race tyres fitted to the GP8 - during this second outing.
Stoner set a new race lap record of 1min 50.003secs on his way to second place in June's Italian GP, but the next fastest Ducati lap was a 1min 51.181secs by Stoner's troubled team-mate Marco Melandri. Satellite Alice riders Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli set best race laps around the 1min 51.8secs mark.
Gibernau's best lap would have placed him fifth fastest during the race.
Official air and track temperatures during the Italian Grand Prix race were slightly lower than this week's test, being 29°C and 42°C respectively.
"I want to thank not only Ducati but also all the guys that have supported me here," declared Gibernau. "Some of them worked with me in 2006 and it was great to find ourselves together again. I've really enjoyed myself today and have had a completely new experience as a rider.
"The faster you go, the more obvious it becomes that this bike demands a real physical and mental effort, but when you manage to ride it well, the satisfaction is unique.
"I hope my work has been of use to Filippo [Preziosi], to help understand the differences between the GP8 and GP9. They are two machines with characteristics typical of Ducati, and the GP9, although new, shows great potential."
But what happens now?
Gibernau had already been tipped to replace Melandri, perhaps as early as next weekend's German Grand Prix, even before his impressive second test.
Melandri, who has taken only one top ten finish from his first nine starts as a factory Ducati rider, seems to have lost all hope of adapting to the Desmosedici - but is now expected to stay until at least the summer break, which begins after Laguna Seca on July 20.
Gibernau is surely poised to take Melandri's seat should a separation be agreed, and it is hard to believe that the current situation can continue for a full season, but Ducati Corse's general manager Filippo Preziosi confirmed only that further 'opportunities' for Gibernau will be evaluated.
"First of all I want to compliment Sete and thank him for the great job he has done here this week," stated Preziosi. "It is always a pleasure to work with an experienced rider like Sete and his feedback will undoubtedly help us.
"His comments are very similar to those made by Casey and Vittoriano and this confirms that we're proceeding in the right direction. We will evaluate with him whether there can be other opportunities for him to work with us on track with our bikes. He has certainly demonstrated that he's still able to ride very fast," Preziosi declared.
Preziosi also hopes Gibernau's speed will prove to Melandri and Elias that the Desmosedici is not just a bike built for Stoner.
"I hope that this result will also spur on Marco and Toni," he said. "In the last months we have worked hard to improve the GP8 but I think I can now say that it is a good level and we hope that they too can get the most out of the machine in the coming races."
Guintoli has made gradual, but clear progress, with the Desmosedici in recent events, rising from the back of the field to the edge of the top ten.
Comment 1 - 11 of 11
hodgson74, Bayliss, Capirossi (even Barros) all showed speed but that was on the 990 Ducati. Nobody but Stoner has been able to ride the 800. As far as I am aware, Gibernau's the only guy to date that's come anywhere near Stoner's lap times on the 800. I suspect Gibernau can only give Ducati a few years anyway so I completely see your point as to just bringing in Canepa (who's also been relatively quick on the 800). My speculative guess is that Ducati is not all that interested in getting race wins from Gibernau...far more important is for him to help diagnose why nobody else seems to be able to ride the GP8. Ducati's in a tough spot given they have only one rider that gets on w/their bike, and too many things can go wrong having all your eggs in one basket. I'd be doing the exact same thing if I were Livio Suppo. Perhaps Ducati feels they have to offer Gibernau some races to lure him into helping w/development?
choikjk. i see your point but if you stuck troy bayliss or capirossi on the bike they would go fast in testing.. troy jumped on it and won a race so as capi but there one off wins here and there , ok gibernau might be a couple of tenths off which put against marco looks impressive but to set him on as fulltime rider is another thing he never did the job well 1st time round so why do you believe he,s gonna do any better this time? he may get some top 5 finishes but if i were ducati i would be aiming to bring in canepa to finish off this season and give him experiance on the bike for next year!
Hodgson74, You're nuts if you really believe Stoner doesn't care whether Gibernau can be competitive on the Ducati. EVERY rider cares how the other side of the garage is doing. Everyone. I've no idea how Stoner will react to it (...and the bloke has definitely handled pressure extremely well thus far), but it's absurd to think he won't care if Gibernau started lapping faster (which I doubt). Look, the original point I was trying to make was that Gibernau deserves some credit for getting within 5 tenths of Stoner after 6 days of testing. I'm not saying he'll start winning races or anything of the sort...but how can you guys not acknowledge he's been impressively fast under testing circumstances?
i dont think casey would give a monkeys if sete was fast. as before he,s ok as a test rider he may set some quick times in practice and testing but soon as the race starts he goes to jelly the guys 35 got more experience than most of the grid but to think he,s in the same league as stoner is another thing. casey is gonna be another mick doohan ,rossi, rainey .if he,d had a factory machine from his 1st year he would have been a regular podium finisher . and lets face it rossi had factory machinery from the word go and if the field had have been simaliar age as it is now theres no way he would have won as many race,s . when he,s pushed which last year and this he is then the pressure makes him crack. sete never had that killer blow and never will ..
Kingrihab, I think you're reading way too much from my comments. His 2006 year w/Ducati was riddled w/injuries and bad luck, but no doubt he was fast. have a look at the 2006 yearbook and you'll see how competitive he was. As a whole, Capirossi was still faster that year but not by much. You don't think it's noteworthy being 5 tenths from Stoner's lap record, particularly given neither Melandir, Elias nor Guintoli could do that lap time despite having much more experience w/the Ducati? That is 100% undisputable fact. Stoner hater? Again, no idea where you're getting that from as I think he's a great talent on a machine very well suited to him. Stoner was crash-prone but fast even on the 2006 Honda. If you've ever raced (...I have for several years at club level) then you know the first thing you want to do is beat the guy on the same machine as you. Stoner's thrilled that he's been so far ahead of all other Ducati riders thus far and he'll definitely pay attention when somebody starts riding the Ducati well. Do you think Rossi likes that Lorenzo has been so quick? Hayden that Pedrosa has been kicking his butt? You're kidding yourself if you really think Stoner doesn't mind Gibernau being competitive.
choikjk, u definetly alluded to the possibility that sete can do better than stoner:"he's 5 tenths from................much much longer)" so I reminded u of the fact that sete was given a contract not just six days and did nothing. and it's not me who related the two talents, it was your comment that brought the two names together. I spoke of jealousy because all stoner's haters pick on him in one way or the other:"gibernau's speed.....nervous."
Life for Gibernau et al has been pretty difficult with Rossi around. In fairness all other riders have to try really hard + have better equipment (such as stoner last year), otherwise when equipment is on par, Rossi is on another planet. Stoner, Pedrosa, and Gibernau (the latter for the sake of discussion) are all extremely fast under one lap - no doubt, but are completely different animals under overtaking attempts - lack tactics, courage, and moves. The only guy I have seen true potential is this Lorenzo dude - the kid is crazy, am sure he'll be an outright pain in the future (though he is the one through literal pain at the mo :)). Anyways, just had a pint or two at the local pub, so if what ive said is complete bull, please disregard... dont think there is a moral to whatever I posted, but the beer was gud
to be honest gibernau was never gonna win the title he,s like a biaggi gets some good results then fades away for a few race,s then comes good again where as casey is strong every race yes he,s had some bad luck this season but he,s got things sorted and back on the pace. i agree with kingrihab you gotta go with the young riders gibernau is a test rider and should stay that way. you think how long he was in gp,s and only had 9 wins not good the results speak for themselves!
If you recall, Gibernau was very fast (when not injured) in his first and only year on the GP6 (which was a 990 at the time). He was competitive w/Capirossi (and even faster at some tracks) despite Capirossi's history w/Ducati...so not sure why you say he was unable to show potential of GP6. I realize significance of 5 tenths, but Gibernau's already significantly faster than every Ducati rider other than Stoner, and that with very, very limited seat time. Why do you mention jealousy? What's that got to do w/anything? Stoner is definitely an ace...but why is Gibernau's talent in any way related to Stoner's talent? I don't follow you there.
pure nonesonse, sete was offered a ride before stoner. what did he achieve? nothing. he was unable to show the real potential of the bike. I don't know why u people are blinded by jealousy. do u know what a 0.5 of a second difference means in motogp world. stoner is an ace and so are the new generation riders. ducati should hire the services of a talented young rider like dovizioso who would welcome riding a factory machine.
I'm impressed. He's always been great at set-up but I did not expect him to adapt to the GP8 so quickly. Ducati would be crazy not to sign him to replace Melandri this year (and next). He's 5 tenths from Stoner's lap record after having been on this machine for total of 6 days (...noting that Stoner's been riding it much, much longer)! Morever, Ducati has only been tailoring Gibernau's test GP8 in limited fashion given testing circumstances. I'm surprised to say this, but I'm sure Gibernau's speed is making Stoner nervous. Who would've thought?
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