Former MotoGP stars Stefan Bradl and Casey Stoner look set to test for Honda and Ducati respectively before the official IRTA outing later in the month.
It is likely that two-time champion Stoner will get his hands on the 2018-spec Desmosedici before Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso when the Bologna factory rolls it out for three days, starting on January 24.
He will be joined by fellow tester Michele Pirro who will probably stay on for the official test which starts on the 28th.
Bradl lost his seat with the Honda WorldSBK team but has been retained by the factory for testing purposes. He will also take on a role at the pre-test test alongside Takumi Takahashi, if all things are equal.
Other manufacturers fielding test riders will be Suzuki with Sylvain Guintloli, Aprilia with ex-BSB star Matteo Baiocco, Mika Kallio for KTM, plus Yamaha will also take Kats Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane.
