There’s a lot of speculation at this time of year. You don’t need me to tell you that. But this week we’ve seen a good few confirmations.

I’m oddly preoccupied by British Superbikes at the moment. Next season is starting to take shape now, with HM Plant Honda announcing Australians Josh Brookes and Glen Richards as their riders. Brookes – who competed in World Supersport this year – was already strongly rumoured after a surprise appearance for the team at the final British Supersport round at Brands Hatch recently. Richards, meanwhile, took this year’s British Supersport championship on a Triumph.

There are still more question marks than confirmed riders in BSB for 2009 though, as neatly illustrated on the BSB website.

Elsewhere, Sete Gibernau‘s return to MotoGP has been confirmed in Valencia, ahead of the final round of the year. Following successful tests for the factory squad, his return comes in the form of a single entry satellite Ducati team – Grupo Francisco Hernando ONDE 2000. A snappy team name, then. Spanish property developer Francisco Hernando is the cash money behind the team, which will be run by brothers Gelete and Pablo Nieto – a fine motorcycling family.

Valentino Rossi would be the best thing that ever happened to the World Rally Championship, if he made the switch – which he won’t. He has confirmed his third WRC outing though: throwing a Ford Focus WRC around Wales Rally GB. I desperately want him to beat Sebastien Loeb.