As expected, Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa is not taking part in the Jerez MotoGP tests which start today with 125 and 250 practice. His place has been taken by former Suzuki testing pudding Kousuke Akiyoshi who managed a GP finish in 2006.

Valentino Rossi is looking forward to cracking on today as he is very confident in his Yamaha package. The Doctor was quickest man when the MotoGP circus was last in town and he reckons he only has some last minute settings to firm up and he's ready to rock in Qatar.

Rossi's boss, however, isn't quite so optimistic. Masao Furusawa has admitted to being a but windy about Casey Stoner this season because the the Aussie's pre-season testing form. The Japanese said he would rather see Stoner on a Honda, which would make him less competitive.

Stoner appears to have fallen in love with new team-mate Nicky Hayden, saying he is very easy to talk to and is easy to get on with. Get. A. Room.

Tech3 Yamaha's Colin Edwards has been sending lots of congratulatory texts to WSB upper-and-bugger-offer Ben Spies. I bet that stops at when it's contract time at Tech3.

World Superbike parachutee John Hopkins is remaining reasonably silent on his split from Kawasaki but has had some kind of settlement. No-one knows how much and, frankly, no-one cares. Hopkins will test the Stiggy Honda bike at Almeria on Sunday.

Marco Melandri's Bad Wind team reckons they aren't going to be looking for any external help once Kawasaki's development schedule ends on Friday. Ilmor had been talking to them about engineering opportunities but that all fell apart faster than an American bank.

James Toseland's Tech3 team are due to unveil their new Monster colours at Jerez today. As are Rizla Suzuki. Edge-of-the-seat stuff.

Sete Gibernau will return to action this weekend after resting his shoulder which he bumped during a training session in February. He missed the Qatar night test, about which he is probably breathing a huge sigh of relief, and his impossibly-named Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati satellite team will be ready to go. Home.

125GP tiddler Scott Redding has been losing weight apparently. He weighs in at a colossal 65kg or ten stone in real money, which is a bit more than he did last year. He's a teenager, they grow. He will managed it so long as he stays off the Georgina Usher diet, which comprises donor meat and chips (with Naz's special dauce), choclit and no exercise thrice daily.

LCR Honda are apparently close to signing a sponsorship deal with Playboy. Excellent work. No more half-eaten brolly girls from dodgy agencies for them.