But his 2006 season began with a mechanical failure while amongst the lead group in
Jerez and further misfortune followed - highlighted by a huge accident at turn one in Catalunya, when he tangled with team-mate
Loris Capirossi under braking. Gibernau broke his collarbone in the fall, forcing him to miss the next three rounds then, just two races after his return, required a further operation after the plate inserted to heal the break weakened, forcing him to miss another race.
Gibernau made his second comeback for the three flyaway events in Malaysia, Australia and Japan - finishing fifth, fourth and fourth as he regained fitness - but had a fighting chance of a breakthrough victory when he took the lead of the rain interrupted Australian Grand Prix. However, as the weather improved, Sete's wet tyres deteriorated and he went on to lose what would have been his first, and only, Ducati podium to Rossi at the very final corner.
A much more dramatic last turn pass had handed Rossi victory over Gibernau in the 2005 season-opening Spanish Grand prix at Jerez - when, after a thrilling final lap battle, the Yamaha rider launched a brilliant, but brutal, last gasp attack that sent Gibernau through the gravel and handed the Italian victory. It marked the first and perhaps only time in Rossi's career that he has been booed by the crowd.
Relations between Gibernau and Rossi had, perhaps unsurprisingly, soured shortly after Sete became a title rival. When Gibernau won his first race for Honda, at round two of the 2003 world championship and shortly after the death of team-mate Daijiro Kato, Rossi had seemed genuinely pleased and the sporting attitude between the pair arguably continued until Gibernau poached a last turn victory from the factory Repsol Honda rider at the German Grand Prix, round nine of the championship.
