Speculation about the date of an eventual return of 2008 MotoGP World Champion and factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner is running high, as the Ducati Team announced that Italian Mattia Pasini will be testing for three days at Mugello this week, just ahead of the Portuguese MotoGP round.

The Italian, currently fifth in the 250cc World Championship had already tested a Ducati with the satellite Pramac team following the Czech Grand Prix in August.

Stoner, who was expected to be back in action in Portugal after having missed the last three races because of a serious lack of energy, has recently stated that he was feeling much better. Meanwhile, testing Pasini could indicate that the team is building a plan B in case their No.1 rider cannot make the Portugal race, and also evaluating Pasini for a full time ride in 2010.





Photo Credit : Ducati