This is breaking news from crash.net last night.
“New Superstock 1000 Champion Brendan Roberts will graduate to the World Superbike Championship in 2009 with Guandalini Ducati, Crash.net can reveal.
Roberts, who prevailed in a title fight of five riders at the concluding Portimao round, has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks regarding his whereabouts.
Most recently he has been linked with a British Superbike ride, possibly with North West, but Ducati have confirmed to Crash.net that the Australian rider will instead race in the world series for the Italian-based Guandalini team having sealed a deal this week.
Guandalini ran a single Ducati 1098RS for Jakub Smrz in this year’s championship, but while the Czech driver showed impressive flashes of speed, particularly in qualifying, his overall performance proved to be inconsistent.
Nonetheless, he managed his best result of sixth place on three occasions, at Donington Park, Assen and Miller Motorsports Park, and was classified overall in 13th as the second best privateer.
It has been confirmed that the team will expand to run two bikes in 2009, Smrz retaining his seat.”
And Thursday MotoGp Test Times from Jerez.
1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 39.429 sec
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 39.447 sec
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 40.426 sec
4. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 40.448 sec
=5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 40.486 sec
=5. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 40.486 sec
7. Mika Kallio FIN Alice Team 1min 40.564 sec
8. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 40.604 sec
9. Sete Gibernau SPA Onde 2000 Ducati 1min 40.856 sec
10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1min 40.966 sec
11. Niccolo Canepa ITA Alice Team 1min 41.077 sec
12. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 41.740 sec
13. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Test Rider 1min 42.906 sec
14. Yuki Takahashi JPN Team Scot 1min 42.918 sec