For the eighth round of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship that in Assen, Holland, this weekend, ALEX HOFMANN, PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP rider, will replace SETE GIBERNAU on the Official DUCATI. The Spanish rider injured himself during the frightening accident of last Sunday in Spain and his return will depend on how fast his recover will be. As a replacement for ALEX HOFMANN, there will be the Spanish IVAN SILVA, already racing for the Team of LUIS D’ANTIN in the EXTREME category of the Spanish Championship, that also did a race of the 2006 World Championship in the Superstock 1000 class. A big opportunity for ALEX HOFMANN, that will have a great occasion to race with the Official DUCATI (BRIDGESTONE tyres), but also for IVAN SILVA that will ride on the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Sat.” for the first time in the World Championship, assisted by the technical staff of the Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP. ALEX HOFMANN: “I’m excited and so happy! Having the possibility to race on the Official DUCATI DESOMOSEDICI is an unbelievable opportunity and I will give my 100% to take advantage of it the most I can. 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. I’m very motivated and I want to make something good. In our world, these kind of agreement doesn’t happen very often and I want to thank everybody: DUCATI, PRAMAC, LUIS D’ANTIN and PAOLO CAMPINOTI, for thier confidence, that I hope to reciprocate giving the maximum. I also have a special thought for SETE GIBERNAU to whom I wish to get well at the soonest and in the best way possible “. IVAN SILVA: “I didn’t expect it and it has really been a great surprise! Having the opportunity to make a race with the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Sat.” of the Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP is simply fantastic. Besides, I already know the Team very well, racing in the Extreme category of the Spanish Championship with them, and I’m really happy to get the chance to make this experience with them. I would like to thank everybody for having given me this opportunity, and I hope not to disappoint anybody!”