Casey Stoner could well get a chance to ride the Ducati Desmosedici GP9 at Catalunya on Monday in testing - if he can prise test rider Vito Guareshi off it. He said: "The new bike will be here this weekend and Vito will take it round on Monday morning, so if we are happy with how it is going I might get to try it too."
Valentino Rossi is to ride with a brand new livery at Catalunya. It has been done to celebrate the European Football Championships, which begin on Sunday. The championship leader’s bike has been specially painted in the style of the shirts of the Italian national team, the ‘Azzurri’, ahead of their opening game against Holland on Monday. Rossi will also wear leathers designed in the same vein and even his famous number 46 has undergone a change for the weekend
Neither Dani Pedrosa or Nicky Hayden are riding with the pneumatic-valve Honda motors this weekend. Test rider Tady Okada said the bike is ultimately quicker but they have problems with power delievry and side grip.
What with 2009 offers being fired at Colin Edwards from all directions, Tech3 team boss Herve Ponchral must be getting a headache. He must now start to look for a team-mate for James Toseland very early, and the smart money must go on Ben Spies if Edwards disappears to Kawasaki or Xerox Ducati given the relative lack of experience in the 250 field.

Speaking of JT, there has been much gossip and rumour about him removing himself from his Yamaha contract and going over to the red garage as a replacement for Marco Melandri. All I have to say is that would be expensive and silly.

More fuel has been added to the 250cc class replacement debate with KTM saying they will not run four-strokes, but they might consider a 500cc twin instead…