Aprilia returns to MotoGP with Gresini Racing next season

It has been confirmed on Friday just before the San Marino MotoGP race weekend (12/9/14), Aprilia will return to MotoGP as a factory team next season, with Gresini Racing running its bikes for the next four years.



Despite, Aprilia did intended to return to the series in 2016, the Italian company have advanced its plans by 12 months and intends to race an upgraded version of its current ART bike, which will feature a new seamless shift gearbox and pneumatic valve motor.

Aprilia was last involved in MotoGP as a works outfit in 2004, although the company's machinery has been used in the CRT and Open classes in recent seasons, currently by Ioda Racing and Paul Bird Motorsport.



The agreement with Aprilia will see Gresini Racing's 18 year long-standing Honda partnership come to an end. Which, include a 2001 250cc title with Daijiro Kato and the 2010 Moto2 title with Toni Elías.



No word on who will race on the Gresini Aprilia’s rider line-up for next season, but it is widely expected that World Superbikes Aprilia rider Marco Melandri and current Gresini rider Alvaro Bautista will ride on the new Aprilias'. Although, there are rumours that he has an option with Forward Yamaha for next season.

End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.