Capirossi tips Gibernau for MotoGP return

Injured Rizla Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi is in attendance at the bwin.com British Grand Prix this weekend, cheering on Chris Vermeulen and replacement rider Ben Spies, and when he caught up with motogp.com on Sunday the experienced Italian revealed that he expects to see fellow former Ducati man Sete Gibernau back in MotoGP next year.

Twice a World Championship runner-up, Gibernau recently returned to riding a MotoGP bike for the first time since 2006 in a private test with Ducati at Mugello, fuelling speculation that he could be set for sensational comeback to Grand Prix riding, with Capirossi believing there could be some truth to the rumours having spoken to the Spaniard.

Capirossi joked, `It would be good for me because next year I won´t be the oldest, Sete will be the oldest one!´ before adding more seriously, `I am big friends with him and we talk a lot. He says first of all he wants to try the bike again, but I think from a personal view his feeling is to try to come back.´

In reference to his own hastier comeback from a broken hand, Capirossi stated his intention to try and ride next weekend in the Netherlands, saying, `It´s coming along day by day, but today is only two weeks after the injury in Barcelona. It was my dream to ride here but it was really just impossible. I really hope to have, not good condition, but fit enough condition to ride in Assen next week.´