Former Alstare Suzuki World Superbike rider Fonsi Nieto was expected to turn up for the World Superbike tests at Portugal's Portimao circuit.

But the out-of-seat Spaniard, who had been linked with a possible Kawasaki MotoGP ride if the team was taken over by countryman Jorge Martinez, has so far failed to materialise.

It is believed that Nieto, and his Pepephone sponsors, were in negotiation to either re-join the Alstare squad, run by Francis Batta, or to set up a private Suzuki team. The Alstare bikes are running with no title sponsors on the fairings here.