Marlboro Ducati's Valentino Rossi lapped as fast as Casey Stoner during his first ride out on the new Deltabox-style framed GP12 at Jerez, with unoffcial times putting them within tenths of each other at the Spanish track.

According to trackside stopwatches, Rossi took the litre bike to an early 1'39s lap which compares favourably with Stoner's pole lap of 1'38.757 on the 800cc Repsol Honda. No official times were released from Stoner's 1000cc test but they are thought to be in the same ballpark.

Ducati have not officially recognised the test with no information forthcoming from the factory and FTR, who built the aluminium parts, are still saying they have never heard of Ducati, which is all a bit silly but rules is rules.