Massive interest will surround the upcoming MotoGP tests at Sepang in Malaysia and for more than one reason. We should find out then whether any green bikes will be out to play in 2009, and the first official indications of rule changes will come to light.

Ducati's CEO Claudio Domenicali has said from very early on that he believes a cut in practice sessions and the extension of engine life are the way forward in 2009.

"We are considering a variety of proposals, together with the other constructors, the organisers and the Federation with this objective in mind; for example modifying the rules on the durability of the engines, which produce one of the biggest costs in MotoGP," he said.

"The objective of extending engine durability is a matter for 2010 because it involves modifications that include the redesigning of internal components and that takes a certain amount of time. For this season we are looking at taking a step towards it by reducing the length of each practice session."

Theories flying round the MotoGP world at the moment for 2009 include the cutting of each practice session by 15 minutes, keeping warm-up down to ten minutes, imposing a maximum number of engines per season with penalties a la F1 and a further restriction winter testing.

What is in the pipeline for 2010 can only be a matter of wild speculation as we do not know, as yet, whether any factory teams will compete or simply build customer bikes.

One bike per rider could be a move but that would have to come with the exclusion of carbon brakes to make the flag-to-flag rule possible. Mechanics would just have to do some very fast wheels changes.

The calendar could be cut down because it goes on too long anyway, plus a couple of the rounds only get three spectators and some cows watching anyway.
Of course, Dorna could set up a separate series run within the race for the satellite teams, with its own podium, but force them to run a bike in the Moto2 category as well. Crappy grid for bad idea sorted.