MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

I think team orders are more a F1 thing - we saw with Dani and Nicki that there were no team orders in place (and look what happened) – I believe as the money gets bigger and the pressure on the teams ramps up, from manufacturers and sponsors this kind of thing will proliferate (I love that word – proliferate – try saying that at the pub about 2am). I would love to see another successful Ducati – it would finally shut those drones up who argue it isn’t bike but the rider that makes the difference, right? Finally we would have a motorcycle to sacrifice on the altar of rubbish propaganda! Imagine being one of the twits who held their breath for two seasons waiting...

MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

Lex - I concede the point all except for one thing - think how much Sete will want to annoy, and I mean "really get up the nose of", Valentino Rossi. We don't get to see rider’s contracts (they have enforceable confidentiality clauses and all of that) but I guarantee the contract would be a number 2 contract - he would be signing up to support Casey (who is currently on a decent fight back any way). I think there would be an element of schadenfreude on Sete’s part to get out and bother Valentino because there is (was) a hell of a history and a hell of a lot of bad blood – an ulterior motive for racing? That said, anyone who races wants to be first to the chequered flag.

MOTOGP » Spies: I got what I needed.

Is there a Macca's at Yass - I didn't know Yass was still there. Hey Roadrage - for what it's worth everyone gets bashed on this column - but the current 800cc format suits ex 125 and 250 riders so Ben will find it hard. What Americans (and Australians for that matter) ought to do is put more of their super sport riders in 250 and let them have the proper apprenticeship for motogp WITH sponsors I mean seriously Andrew Forrest (Fortescue) or whatever his name is makes about 10 mill a day selling iron ore to China, surely he could flick a bit to gp racing. In the last supersport race there were three Aussies on the podium but it is an ultra cheap form of racing

MOTOGP » The road to Stoner's 100th.

Grano - how he responds - he won the last couple of races - sorted out the TC (which is the same as VR's anyway). Casey lived out of a caravan and ate baked beans from a tin for those first few years – his bikes were budgeted in the same way. Even if he doesn’t win the championship in 2008 he will again in the future AND he has been nothing but loyal to his team and tyres. He didn’t fade like NH or KR Jnr after the flash in the pan championships they got. I’m still waiting for the call-up for his PR team – “Hey Andy, sick of being a sh*&^y Guvmint Lawyer” – “Why yes I am”. Then your job is to teach him how to praise other riders and not be such a grouch. Ahhh Europe here I come.

MOTOGP » Spies chasing US top five.

Maybe...if he was on a Honda or Yamaha but not the Suzuki. A lot of brilliant SBK riders have run in motogp - CE still hasn't won a race and he is a damn good rider, Bayliss never came to terms with the bike until his very last "comeback" race, Chris V slid to a victory - could have done it on a Jawa 500 single for how wet it was, JT is a great rider and still not there yet. I think Ben has more chance of growing a leg out of his forehead than a top 5 finish. My prediction is 9th (thereabouts). In motogp it is the number of laps on the style of bike, not the laps on a particular circuit that counts, that is why the apprenticeship riders (up through 125 & 250’s) are dominating

MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

I still maintain that Sete will be happy to do a job and that is being on the winning team. He will battle with Valentino and Dani, but his team mate will escape and the Ducati championship is the goal. I think Sete will be happy to vicariously have his victory through his (possible) team mate Casey. An at this point in the season do you seriously think the team is going to say - go out and win – they will say – “go out and annoy Valentino and Dani”. I guarantee you there are 3 Yamaha riders and at least one other Honda rider with similar orders – if Nicki can slow Casey and Valentino down he will be doing his job - likewise for Jorge, Colin and James. It’s the number 2 rider role

MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

Zydon brings up an interesting point "Which current Ducati rider get Gibernau's 2006 crews?" Casey would have undoubtedly got Sete's crew, I think the crux is however Sete didn't test with Casey's (his old) crew. They tested at Mugello (I think) too close to Assen for the old crew to be with Sete, I think what can be extrapolated from that is that Sete (and Casey) know how to direct the set up towards being a competitive package, or ride it like one - built around the tyres. I also throw in my vote for what Patrice said - going fast in a test is not the same as race day and Sete showed that he wasn't up to it mentally - that is why he will only ever be No.2 rider (if at all)

WSBK » Xaus: Corser and I would make great pair.

Who will take the 2nd Yamaha - I'm just waiting for Jamie Stauffer (Australian SBK champ - Yamaha) to make his entrance onto the world stage. BMW couldn't get a better development rider than Troy C. With KTM moving in and BMW lining up as well anyone get the feeling that this is really taking over from motogp? As for their choice in Xaus(Brian) – I think Xaus is a talented rider but not a talented racer – however it is easier to teach a fast inconsistent guy to be consistent than it is too teach a slow consistent guy to be fast – this is the lesson that Ducati and Stoner taught everyone in motogp and I think BMW will benefit from teaming him with fast consistent and clever Corser

MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

Sete has unfinished business in motogp, mostly because of his shabby treatment. I think he would exorcise most of those demons if he were on the team that beat Valentino. I think that the Valentino spell has been broken by the lucky Hayden and the fast and skilled riding of Casey AND Dani. I think Sete would come back to a competition that has Valentino “the rider”, when Sete left he was still “the enigma”. It will provide a 2nd part to the story and a chance for Sete to clean the slate so to speak and leave motogp with his head held high. His desire to be on the winning team means he will run great interference for Casey and bring a battle back to mgp that would be highly anticipated.

MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

Olddog - have a look at their results in SBK - they really aren't on the ball - no Livio or JB driving development there?