Marlboro Ducati's Valentino Rossi will be on track again today (Thursday) at Mugello only a week after his Superbike appearance at Silverstone but the nine-times world champion is on next year's Desmosedici GP12.

The Doctor will swing a leg over the 1000cc MotoGP bike which, it is believed, uses the new chassis debuted at Le Mans. It shows how hard Ducati are working towards next year's title if Rossi is riding the bike so early.

Ducati will also have next year's 1200cc Superbike on track, ridden by their Superstock child Danilo Petrucci at the behest of former works WSB boss Ernesto Marinelli who is also looking after Carlos Checa in the 'non factory' Althea team.