After last weekend's incredible crash in the Catalunya GP, when 3 riders had to be hospitalized due to severe injuries, some of the MotoGP teams had to find new solutions for the up-coming Dutch TT GP at Assen. And one of them was Ducati Desmosedici GP06. The name might sound a little more familiar if you heard about Spain's Sete Gibernau.

The former Honda rider has been forced to pull out of this weekend's race, since he is not physically fit for racing. If his other two "companions" in the terrible crash - Marco Melandri and Loris Capirossi - were lucky enough to make it to practice, the Spaniard will have to wait a few more weeks to get into shape.

In the meantime, his place on the Ducati team will be taken by German rider Alex Hofmann. The former Kawasaki rider has been given a great opportunity, since he was riding for satellite Dunlop-shod Ducati (Luis d'Antin's team) all season long. He will finally have the chance to prove that he is Ducati material for the next season.

"I'm excited and so happy! Having the possibility to race on the official Ducati Desomosedici is an unbelievable opportunity and I will give it 100%. I know this motorcycle well, I also know the evolution level of the Bridgestone tyres that I developed until the Valencia GP of the 2005 Championship, with which I had a good feeling that I hope to get back from the first laps I will make in Assen", said the German.

Since he has been given the chance to ride for the official Ducati team, his place in the Luis d'Antin's team will be taken by another Spaniard, Ivan Silva. Silva is not a stranger of Ducati, after riding this season for D'Antin's team in the Extreme category of the Spanish Championship.