Now Capirossi guns for Schumacher, Ferrari.

Having proven the sheer speed of the new MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici at Mugello, Loris Capirossi is eager to see just who would be fastest at the end of the main straight in Barcelona - Michael Schumacher and the F1 Ferrari, or the 990cc Marlboro-backed machine of the flying Italian.

All should be revealed at the Circuit De Catalunya this weekend, as the MotoGP circus decamps to Spain for the first of its annual back-to-back events.

At the recent Spanish F1 grand prix, Schumacher recorded a top speed of 205.99mph at the end of the main straight at the Barcelona circuit. At the Cinzano Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on Sunday, Capirossi recorded a top speed of 206.55mph to win himself a Gericom Blockbuster Radeon computer as the fastest rider of the day.

The straight in Barcelona is slightly shorter than Mugello, but the MotoGP riders approach it through the right-hand bend in third gear rather than the second gear left-hander at Mugello.

Interestingly, Capirossi also clocked 203.94mph at the IRTA test session at Barcelona in March - before the Ducati had been developed to the stage it is currently at and, if it stays dry over the weekend, either the Italian or team-mate Troy Bayliss look more than capable of finding an extra 3mph from those speeds achieved in pre-season testing.

Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets....