MotoGP rookie Hector Barbera starts his unofficial extra test at Jerez today (Thursday), alongside Ducati test riders Vittoriano Guareschi and Franco Battaini.

23-year-old Spaniard Barbera, who won the last ever 250cc grand prix and with it claimed second in the 2009 world championship, will be making his second appearance for the new Aspar Ducati MotoGP team after an impressive debut at the official Valencia test.

Barbera finished the first post-season test fastest of the four 250cc graduates, ahead of Marco Simoncelli, Alvaro Bautista and Hiroshi Aoyama. Hector will have three days on track at Jerez, where countryman Marc Marquez will also make his debut for the Ajo Derbi team in the 125cc class.

Although nothing official has been announced regarding extra track time for new riders, Rizla Suzuki rookie Bautista was allowed a similar 'private' test at Estoril last week, while Honda riders Simoncelli and Aoyama are lined-up for additional track time at Sepang next month.

Ben Spies and Aleix Espargaro, who will also be classed as rookies next year but have already raced in MotoGP, don't seem to be part of the extra testing opportunities - although again, nothing official has been announced.

The next official MotoGP test is at Sepang in early February.