Gibernau to Ducati?

Reports in the Spanish press indicate that Telefonica Movistar's looming withdraw from MotoGP could also mean that Sete Gibernau leaves Honda for Ducati next season.

The Spanish telecommunications giant are upset at losing Dani Pedrosa to Repsol Honda next season, having backed the Spaniard from almost his first laps on a racing motorcycle, and are set to put all their efforts behind Renault F1 driver Fernando Alonso - now expected to become the first ever Spanish Formula One World Champion.

With Gibernau's contract being with Telefonica, and not Honda, the double MotoGP runner-up would either need the backing of Fausto Gresini's new 2006 sponsor or for HRC to step in with a deal to keep him on an RCV.

But with Nicky Hayden and Pedrosa already signed to HRC for 2006 - and current factory rider Max Biaggi an 'unknown' - Gibernau's chances of a direct Honda contract appear limited.

Meanwhile Altadis, current backers of the two Yamaha teams through their Gauloises and Fortuna brands, are tipped to ditch Yamaha if - as rumoured - Valentino Rossi sets up a one man team next season, with backing from his own sponsors.

If that happens Altadis are expected to move their money to Gresini, where they would apparently place current Fortuna Yamaha rider Toni Elias alongside current Gresini pilot Marco Melandri.

According to Spanish sportspaper AS, it is against this backdrop that Ducati, who reportedly tried to sign Gibernau last season, have made a new 4-million euro offer to place Gibernau alongside Loris Capirossi - although the Italian, like current team-mate Carlos Checa, is yet to sign for 2006.

The 'paper adds that, unlike with Honda and Michelin, Gibernau could count on the full backing of the Italian factory and their tyre supplier, Bridgestone, while keeping his relatively high paypacket.

If he stayed at Honda next year, without Telefonica backing, his wage is predicted to plummet and, in competitive terms, he is unlikely to receive any more direct Honda support than his current factory bike/satellite team status. Michelin meanwhile, are known to (justifiably) rely heavily on Rossi for tyre development.

Gibernau has again been Rossi's most consistent challenger this season, but has suffered a disastrous run of luck with four costly DNFs - and zero race wins - leaving him just fifth in the current world championships standings, with six rounds to go.

But, despite Gibernau and Biaggi's uncertain future, HRC selected the pair to test the new RCV for the first time at Brno yesterday (lower pic).

Sete only completed 4 laps on the new bike as he concentrated on solving the fuel supply problems that robbed him of a certain second place on Sunday, but Biaggi totalled 20 laps and stated that the machine had 'lots of potential' (see seperate story).

Gibernau and Biaggi could give the 'evo' machine its race debut as early as the Japanese Grand Prix, at Motegi, next time out on September 18.