FORMER double championship runner up Sete Gibernau is set to return to racing after months of on-again/off-again rumours concerning the veteran Spaniard.
An announcement on the eve of next week's Valencia GP is expected to confirm that Sete will be the rider in a new second satellite Ducati team, to be sponsored by Onde 2000 and managed by current 125 rider Pablo Nieto, son of legendary 13-times champion Angel.
Earlier in the week, Gibernau was unwilling to comment, other than to say: “If a situation can be achieved that I will be able to enjoy racing again, then I will be ready to return.”
Gibernau, who will be 36 at the start of next season, has tested the factory Ducati twice this year. He rode for the factory team in 2006, but lost his seat to Stoner for 2007 after a dispute over salary.
Two more Ducati riders have been confirmed. As reported earlier, the Alice-sponsored team will take a junior rider-training role for the factory, fielding class rookies Mika Kallio and Niccolò Canepa. Kallio has extensive GP experience in 125 and 250; 20-year-old Canepa has impressed as factory tester this year.