Gibernau impresses in testing

Eurosport - Thu, 31 Jul 19:32:00 2008

Former MotoGP star Sete Gibernau ended a two-day test for Ducati at Mugello on Wednesday, opting out of a third day at the Italian circuit.

Ducati Sete Gibernau - 0

Valentino Rossi's old sparring partner displayed consistent pace equivalent to a top-10 finisher and clocked an impressive 1:48.9 lap on qualifying tyres, which would have made him the second-fastest Ducati at the Italian GP in June.

"It has been great trying out qualifiers again, after almost two years without," said Gibernau, who escaped unharmed after crashing his Desmosedici.

"Despite the crash it has been a very positive test. Today I experienced the 'thrill' of a crash, but I'm fine," he said.

"I have decided together with [team boss] Filippo [Preziosi] not to ride tomorrow just because we are satisfied already with the good job we did in two days.

"The most important thing is that the feeling with the bike in race trim was perfect almost straight away."

The 35-year-old Spaniard has been linked with a return to the MotoGP grid for the factory Ducati team as a replacement for the struggling Marco Melandri.

However, the Italian constructor has already said Melandri will be retained for the Czech GP in Brno next month.

Regular test riders Vittoriano Guareschi and Niccolo Canepa also took to the Mugello track on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will stay on to complete the three-day test.

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Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. sete wont be allowed to race casey moaner will see to that

    From NICK B, on Sat 2 Aug 10:38PM

  2. great to see sete back, but sadly casey will have the team order him to stay behind and not fight or we will see lots of tears and all the teddies thrown out of his pram

    From paul.ashton43@..., on Sat 2 Aug 6:29PM

  3. Casey Stoner scrapping with elbows and knees? He wouldn't last a lap in intense battle if Sete can get his rustiness away it will be a straight fight between the two old rivals as Rossi will always be there at the top

    From arshad_iceman2, on Fri 1 Aug 11:07PM

  4. Bring him in Ducati. we all want to see him of any other guys joining the 18 man field, Motogp with 18 man is not really a World Championship, More a Club of riders.
    So KAWASAKI AND SUZUKI Join the other bring more bikes in.
    WE WANT 26 BIKES TO START, OR GIVE ONLY THE FIRST 10 HOME POINTS.
    BUT CHANGE IT SOON.

    From hotrijder7, on Fri 1 Aug 6:52PM

  5. Can't really argue with his lap times as he'll easily be the 2nd fastest Ducati out there. He's also been very good at set-up historically (fastest Honda 2003-05) so perhaps he'll be competitive with Stoner. I hope they bring him in...which will make the remaining season that much more interesting.

    From Kenneth, on Fri 1 Aug 12:37PM

  6. yep it would be great to see them all out on track elbo n knees evary whare

    From catherine962@..., on Fri 1 Aug 5:57AM

  7. i hope sete comes back to moto-gp, i would love to see a scrap with him and the two big boys, valentino, cassey

    From hughes434@..., on Thu 31 Jul 5:52PM
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