Friday, August 1 2008 -- Sete Gibernau completed his share of testing a day ahead of schedule and brought the Ducati Desmosedici tests to an early close. A runner-up in the former MotoGP World Championships, Sete was getting his speed back up during the third testing session at the Italian track. He racked up a 1'50.5 timing which was inside the top-ten timing for the race at the venue last year.

Sete's MotoGP rehabilitation programme included this two-day stint and also saw the introduction of Qualifying tyres to the testing sessions.

"It has been great trying out qualifiers again, after almost two years without," said Gibernau after racking up a 1'48.9 fastest lap on Bridgestone's extra-sticky rubber. Sete said that his timing would have placed him on the third row based on last year's qualifying timings, ahead of every Ducati rider barring Casey Stoner. Despite being involved in a crash late in his mid-week session, Sete didn't have any second thoughts on his testing session.

"Despite the crash it has been a very positive test. Today I experienced the 'thrill' of a crash, but I'm fine. I have decided together with Filippo (Preziosi) not to ride tomorrow just because we are satisfied already with the good job we did in two days," revealed Gibernau, who ended his last race with an injury-aggravating crash.

"The most important thing is that the feeling with the bike in race trim was perfect almost straight away." The tests may have ended quickly but the rumours surrounding his return to full-time racing action still seem far from dying away.

"I wish to thank Ducati again for the chance to ride the MotoGP bike once more. We will see together whether and how there will be the chance to continue our cooperation," said Gibernau, who mentioned that he had 'several offers on the table'.

"A special thanks again to Sete who was as usual very helpful", said Preziosi. "I have been impressed with him getting on the pace straight away and lapping very interesting times both with race and qualifying tyres. We are evaluating together the chance to cooperate again and I hope we will be able to find an option interesting for everybody."

Regular riders, Vittoriano Guareschi and Niccola Canepa will continue testing action on thursday.