Gibernau signs for Suzuki.

Spanish GP star Sete Gibernau will join Team Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki next year, riding alongside current World Championship points leader Kenny Roberts Jr in a powerful two-man assault team for the 2001 title.

The 27-year-rider, told over the Estoril weekend that he was no longer required by the Repsol Honda squad, is joining the leading team of the 2000 season for his fifth year of 500-class GP racing. And he is rejoining an old partner.

In their formative racing years, in 1993, Gibernau and Roberts Jr rode for the same team in Spain, contesting the highly competitive 250 Spanish Open series: an important springboard into GP racing. History records that Sete defeated his team-mate, claiming third overall in spite of an injury-hit series.

Gibernau was steeped in motorcycle racing from early childhood. His grandfather is Don Francisco Bulto, founder of the Bultaco marque successful in GP racing as well as off-road competition, and his father was race manager for Bultaco. Sete first rode his own motorcycle at the age of three, and by 1991 was Spanish and Catalan Junior 125 champion.

In 1996, he followed ex-team-mate Roberts Junior into GP racing. In 1997 he moved to the 500 class, and during 1999 he was chosen to take over from five-times champion Mick Doohan. Gibernau took one second and three third places to finish fifth overall in the 1999 championship.

''I'm proud and pleased to have been chosen by Suzuki, and I'm also looking forward to working with Kenny again,'' said Gibernau, ''I have always been dedicated to racing my best, and achieving the maximum possible. With Suzuki, I know I will be one of two riders with the benefit of direct factory input, rather than one of several riders. For me, this is an important step towards the ultimate goal of winning the 500 World Championship.''

Roberts welcomed the new addition to the Suzuki fold, having raced with him in the early part of last Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix.

''Sete has a great family background,'' the American said, ''He grew up in a motorcycle environment. He and I have worked together before, and he's a good team player. He also speaks very good English - probably better than me! All that's good for our team, because we need help in developing the Suzuki for next year. I know he will contribute towards us winning the championship in 2001.''

Gibernau will replace Japanese rider Nobuatsu Aoki, who has been with the team for the past three years, and who played a crucial role in race-developing the successful new-generation Suzuki GP machines.

''We're delighted to have secured Sete's services,'' said team manager Garry Taylor, ''It's important to Telefonica MoviStar, our Spanish sponsors, to have a Spanish rider, but that's not why we chose Sete.

''In fact, we spoke seriously to him about joining this season, even before we'd agreed sponsorship with Telefonica. Sete was top of our shopping list in any case. Sete has shown his class over the last three season - adapting quickly from a two-cylinder to a four-cylinder machine, then riding as if the bikes had been made for him.

''This season's been hard for Sete and his team-mates. Suzuki aim to give him the machine he needs to resume his impressive progress, so that his obvious talent and dedication can achieve full potential.''

Taylor also expressed his appreciation of the contribution made by Nobu Aoki.

''He's been a dedicated team member, and he always tries his considerable best on the track.''